The family of a girl who died of an asthma attack after attending a public school without a nurse has sued the Philadelphia School District.

The wrongful-death lawsuit, filed Wednesday in federal court, said that 12-year-old Laporshia Massey remained at school despite complaining late in the day about breathing problems. She was driven home after school by a staff member Sept. 25, 2013, and died later that day, the lawsuit said.

Bryant Elementary School officials should have called 911, especially with no nurse on duty, lawyer Michael Pomerantz said. The West Philadelphia school had a nurse just two days a week.

"They have a phone there. ... Call 911. Play it safe, especially when you know there's no one else on the school grounds who was able to assess the situation," said Pomerantz, who filed the suit on behalf of the girl's estate.

Students were not allowed to use inhalers or take medicine without a nurse present at Bryant, so Laporshia apparently did not try to use her inhaler at school, the lawsuit said.

A school district spokesman did not immediately return a message Wednesday. The district, which reopens for students on Monday, does not typically comment on pending litigation.

Laporshia's father, Daniel Burch, has said the family got two calls about their daughter, but neither sounded urgent. In an interview last year, he said she was the big sister to his two sons, who also have asthma.

Burch described her interests as typical for a sixth-grade girl: "Fashion, clothes, nails, drawing, writing."

Laporshia was taken to Children's Hospital of Philadelphia just after 6 p.m., and died within the hour, Pomerantz said.

The civil rights lawsuit seeks more than $150,000 in damages.

Copyright Associated Press / NBC 10 Philadelphia

A person is in the hospital after a shooting in Wilmington.

The unidentified victim was on West 36th Street Wednesday afternoon when an unidentified gunman opened fire.

The victim was struck at least once and taken to the hospital. He or she is currently in extremely critical condition.

Police have not yet released a description of the gunman.

This story is developing. Stay with NBC10.com for updates.
 

Copyright Associated Press / NBC 10 Philadelphia

A man was hospitalized after a shooting in Hamilton Township, Mercer County Thursday afternoon.

Authorities responded to reports of gunshots on the 1200 block of Silver Court around 5:40 p.m.

Neighbors identified the victim as a man in his mid 30s.

The victim was rushed to a local hospital, where he in extremely critical condition, according to officials.

No arrests have been made.

Nearly a year after a popular Delaware business owner and his wife were killed, two men were arrested and charged for their murders.

Christopher Rivers, 31, and Joshua Bey, 29, both of Wilmington, are accused of murdering Joseph Connell and his wife Olga Connell.

Connell and his wife were both found dead back on September 22, 2013 on the unit block of Paladin Drive at the Paladin Club Apartments in Wilmington. Witnesses told police they heard shouting and then gunshots moments before their deaths.

Connell was the co-owner of C & S Auto Service while his wife was the receptionist. Rivers, who was Connell’s business partner and co-owner of C &S, was initially questioned by police in connection to the murders.

After months of investigation, officials determined that Rivers and Bey were responsible. They have not yet revealed their motive however.

Both Rivers and Bey are charged with first degree murder, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony and other related offenses. They were both committed to the Howard R. Young Correctional Institution where they are both being held without bail.
 

Copyright Associated Press / NBC 10 Philadelphia

Armed with a stack of search warrants, Pennsylvania State Police inspected nearly two dozen ambulances owned by a medical transportation company already under heavy scrutiny.

State Police served search warrants to Keystone Quality Transport on Wednesday, forcing the company to turn over 20 ambulances to troopers for inspection. Brian Grady, an attorney for Keystone, told NBC10 the inspection was normal.

"These are normal inspections in the normal course of business," Grady said. "We don't expect any problems. We're very happy to have the state police come out here and do their job."

While Grady claimed he knew State Police were coming, he did not reveal why the vehicles were under inspection.

The inspections come a week after State police confiscated the company's ambulance inspection logs.

"We received a report of possible inspection violations," said Pennsylvania State Trooper Lou Vitalli last week. "I did find a number of violations and the investigation will continue. I can't comment on too much of that as of yet."

According to investigators, Keystone has its own state certified inspection station and inspects its own vehicles. By law, the mechanic who does the inspection must sign the inspection log after completing the work. According to police however, a Keystone shop manager signed the logs instead of the mechanic, which would make the inspections fraudulent. Police say they suspect Keystone officials committed forgery and tampered with records. No charges have been filed however.

The Pennsylvania State Police Department is the third agency to investigate Keystone. Last month, the Public Utility Commission and the State Department of Health both began to investigate the company for possible safety violations. Dozens of vehicles and five drivers were taken off the streets.

Richard Gibbons, director of the State Bureau of EMS told NBC10 that the orange “Out of Service” stickers placed on the back of the vehicles by state officials were indicative of a safety issue.

“There can be a variety of issues,” Gibbons said. “Generally there’s something about the vehicle that makes it an immediate threat or potential immediate threat to life safety. Therefore we put it out of service until it’s corrected.”

Also in August, a Keystone ambulance that was carrying a sick baby broke down on the Garden State Parkway. The child had to be taken by medical chopper to St. Christopher’s Hospital as the ambulance was towed.

A Keystone spokesperson claimed the ambulance hit an object in the road that caused a flat tire. Daniel Scull, the general manager of Court House Towing, doesn’t believe that’s what happened however.

“That wasn’t something that you could just run over,” Scull said. “In the event that it was, then both tires would be flat and they’d still be intact. It was not just a flat tire.”

A picture of the ambulance shows that the rear tire was completely missing. Scull says the lug nuts and studs that hold the tire on the vehicle were broken.

“We have to rely on our ambulances to be in tip top shape for the specific reasons that when we need to go somewhere and be transported, we rely on that to save our life,” Scull said.

Scull also says the tire that came off the ambulance was never found.

Officials with Keystone say all of the vehicles the state took out of service should be back on the road by the end of the week. All three state agencies say their investigations are ongoing. State Police say they hope to finish their inspection of the Keystone ambulances by Thursday.

A young girl was stranded for hours in the pouring rain after a bus driver dropped her off at the wrong spot, according to her mother.

Aigner Ross says she told officials at Walter Palmer Charter School in Northern Liberties to drop her 7-year-old daughter Shelaya and 6-year-old son Nasir off at 26th and Tasker after school.

According to Ross, however, Shelaya was the only one who got on the bus, which is owned by the Durham Bus Company. Once she was onboard, Ross claims the driver spotted a man flagging him down at 20th and Tasker. Assuming the man was a relative of the young girl, the driver dropped her off at that location, according to Ross.

The young girl wandered the streets for five hours as strong thunderstorms and heavy rain moved into the area. Meanwhile the family reported her missing around 5:30 p.m. when she never returned home.

Police searched the school, located on the 900 block of North 6th Street, twice but couldn’t find her. They also searched the bus lot at 2500 Aramingo Avenue to see if she was accidentally left on the bus but still couldn’t find her.

The girl’s aunt finally found her at 11th street and Girard Avenue around 9:30 p.m. soaking wet and shivering.

"She was crying," Ross said. "She was upset. She was scared and she was cold."

On Tuesday, Ross went to Walter Palmer Charter demanding answers from school officials. She claims school administrators called the police and had her escorted out of the building after they discovered she was speaking to NBC10. NBC10 also tried to speak to school administrators about the incident but they refused to comment.

A spokesperson with the Durham Bus Company would not confirm Ross' claims but said they were investigating.

"The top priority is safety," the spokesperson said. "As such we are working closely with the school district to determine the events that took place yesterday."

Ross says she's in the process of searching for another school for her children.

Nearly two months after Tiya Hudson was struck by a stray bullet while she was sleeping, the 13-year-old girl has a message for the people responsible.

"I want them to get caught and I want them to say sorry for what they did," Hudson said. "I know it wasn't meant for me." 

Hudson was sleeping inside her home along the unit block of Hathaway Drive in Sicklerville, NJ around 12:45 a.m. July 7 when she was struck in the buttocks by the stray bullet.

"I was trying to crawl and get there but then I stopped because I was in too much pain," Hudson said. "I thought I was gonna die." 

Tiya's 15-year-old sister Toni told NBC10.com she came to her aid moments after the shooting.

"When I came out [of my room], my sister is crawling to me saying she got shot and that she was going to die," Toni said. "I said 'You're not going to die.'"

Responding officers found 11 shell casings at the nearby intersection of Hathaway Drive and Hawthorne Lane. They believe the gunshots were fired west -- peppering the teen's home and at least one other with bullets. But the motive for the shooting is still unknown.

Hudson, who is still recovering from surgery to her abdominal and reproductive organs, is looking forward to starting 8th grade on Thursday. She hopes to continue her dream of becoming a track star in high school once her bullet wound heals. She also wants to be a pediatrician when she grows up.

"Not right now but I'll work for it," Hudson said.

Police meanwhile continue to investigate the shooting while trying to determine if three suspects who were recently taken into custody were responsible. The Camden County Prosecutor's Office announced Wednesday that the three men were arrested in connection to several weapons that were found outside Hudson's home the night of the shooting.

"You take it to another level when you have assault rifles or assault weapons used during what looks like to be some sort of street gun battle," said Winslow Township Police Detective Sergeant Chris Dubler.

While the three men are in custody they have not been officially charged. A $3000 reward for an arrest and conviction in the case remains in place. Dubler says police are passing reward flyers door to door in the neighborhood as the investigation continues.

"We're in that area and that neighborhood repeatedly doing foot patrols and stuff like that," Dubler said.

Tiya's mother Betty Hudson says her biggest concern is the type of weaponry that was used the night of the shooting.

"What I really want to happen is to get rid of the guns," Betty said. "We've got big guns on the street. That was an AK-47. I'm not into sending them all to jail. I would just like them to get educated on all the weapons that they've got access to."

Meanwhile Betty says her children continue to try and move on from the terrifying experience, despite a constant reminder of what happened.

"I'm trying to convince them this was not intended for our family and I'm trying to make them feel safe that way," Betty said. "But they won't go in the room. We still have a bullet hole in the wall." 

The Hudson family, who rely on section 8 funding, are working with the housing authority to move out of their home and neighborhood for good.

The husband of a Philadelphia Police radio dispatcher and father of five was shot six times after he accidentally bumped into a man outside a local bodega.

• Senior Citizens Killed in Murder-Suicide

Investigators say Edward Lynn, 49, entered a bodega on the corner of Farson Street and Haverford Avenue back on August 29 around 2 p.m. As Lynn walked out he accidentally bumped into a man who was with two friends outside.

Lynn's wife Michelle, who works as a Philadelphia Police radio dispatcher, says her husband's simple mistake sparked an argument.

"I understand words were exchanged," Michelle said. "He came back over to apologize and extended his hand. One of the guys went ahead and punched him in the face. That's when a guy pulled out a gun and started shooting.

Police say the suspect fired nine shots. Lynn was struck six times in the legs, shoulder and right side. Investigators also say a bullet pierced his spine.

"He was like, 'I can't believe they just shot me,'" Michelle said. "I just told him to hold on and that I was on my way. I just couldn't believe what they did to my husband for no reason. No reason at all." 

• Person Shot in Chester: Reports

The gunman fled the scene south on the 200 block of North Farson Street.

Lynn was taken to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania where he underwent several surgeries. He is in critical but stable condition. Michelle, who has five children with Edward, says she's not sure if her husband will ever walk again due to the shooting.

"It hurts," Michelle said while in tears. "So many times I want to break down. I can't because I have to be strong for him."

• Regusters Cries Out in Court As Cousin Testifies

The alleged gunman, who was captured on surveillance video inside the grocery store prior to the shooting, is described as a 20-year-old man, standing 5-foot-8. He was last seen wearing a white tank top, tan pants and black sneakers.

If you have any information on the shooting, please call Southwest Detectives at 215-686-3183/4.
 

UConn head coach Geno Auriemma said Wednesday his call to Little League World Series phenom Mo'ne Davis has been reported to the American Athletic Conference as a recruiting violation.

Davis is the 13-year-old girl who took the LLWS by storm with her 70-mph fastballs as a pitcher for the Taney Dragons of Philadelphia last month. She helped her team reach the semifinals before losing to teams from Las Vegas and Chicago.

During the tournament, Davis said she hopes to play basketball for Auriemma at UConn one day.

Auriemma said he talked to Davis to offer her congratulations on her success after someone from the Philadelphia 76's organization suggested it. He said he called the Little League offices while Davis was there, and they briefly spoke.

"The conversation lasts about two minutes," Auriemma said on Wednesday.

He said he was informed after the phone call that another school filed a complaint with the AAC, calling the conversation a recruiting violation.

"That's the world we live in," Auriemma said.

He said the reporting school complained that Auriemma is not allowed to contact Davis before July 1 of her junior year in high school.

The school that filed the complaint can remain anonymous, according to Auriemma.

Copyright Associated Press / NBC 10 Philadelphia

Authorities are working to determine if a body found in burning in a car in North Philly Wednesday is related to a shooting that occurred a few blocks away.

Witnesses told police they saw a man shot in the head around 4 p.m. inside a black Mitsubishi Galant on the 400 block of Roselyn Street in the Olney section of the city, said Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small.

The driver then sped away from the scene with the shooting victim in the front passenger seat, police said.

Patrol officers spotted a car, matching the Mitsubishi's description, engulfed in flames on the 6100 block of Lawrence Street --about three blocks from the shooting-- around 7:45 p.m.

Firefighters responded to the scene and discovered the body of a man burned beyond recognition.  Investigators are unsure of the victim's age or race.

They also said the vehicle's license plate was missing. Witnesses told police they saw a man running from the scene and then hopping into a red car.

While police have not officially identified the body or determined a cause of death, Star Watson told NBC10 she believes the victim is her 24-year-old brother. Watson claims her family went looking for him after hearing he had been shot.

"We saw smoke coming from the air and we ran and got to the burning car before the cops did just by running on foot," Watson said.

No arrests have been made and police have not released information on any suspects. Police continue to investigate.

Philadelphia students and teachers received some good news on Wednesday just in time for the start of the school year. For the first time since 2001, the Philadelphia School District has no schools designated as persistently dangerous.

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The Persistently Dangerous School designation was created by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. The local schools that were removed from the list this year are Lincoln High School and Sayre Middle School.

Officials also say the District saw a reduction in the total number of reported violent incidents for the fourth year in a row. The total number of violent incidents across the district dropped 9.9 percent from the previous year. The rate of violent incidents per 100 students nearly stayed the same from 1.84 to 1.83 in comparison to last year. Student enrollment also dropped from 149,535 to 135,149 in the 2013-14 school year.

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“Our focus on improving school culture and safety throughout all of our schools resulted in the School District having no schools listed this year,” said Dr. William R. Hite, Superintendent of the School District of Philadelphia. “More students are making the right choices and our principals, teachers, and school staff members are providing the right support and guidance.”

Philadelphia schools are set to open on Monday.
 

After numerous delays, Dilworth Park will finally open in Center City today. Lieutenant Governor Jim Cawley as well as state and local officials will attend the grand opening ceremony for the newly renovated park starting at 11 a.m. on the west side of City Hall on 15th and Market Streets.

The new park and former Dilworth Plaza includes a public space for 400 benches and chairs, a large lawn, tree groves and a fountain.

The park also links the Avenue of the Arts with the Benjamin Franklin Parkway and connects the office district with Market East destinations. It also provides new entrances to SEPTA trains and trolleys and makes the Market Street Line as well as subway surface lines accessible by elevator.

The city, state and federal governments picked up the majority of the bill for the $55 million reconstruction project while private donors handled the remaining $15 million. Paul Levy, the President and CEO of the Center City District, also said last year he was relying on the private sector to cover the cost overruns.

“We’re building and actively fundraising so we will have all of the money in place to pay for all the cost,” Levy said. “We will not be asking taxpayers for any more money.”

Click here for more information on Dilworth Park.
 

Authorities are investigating if squatters were living in the vacant West Philly home that went up in flames Thursday morning.

The fire broke out in a property along Funston Street -- located just north of Haverford Ave between 51st and 52nd streets -- around 4 a.m., according to officials.

One firefighter suffered a minor injury while battling the blaze, which crews got under control in about 20 minutes, according to authorities.

An investigation into the fire's cause is underway.

Officials said they discovered an illegal electrical hookup at the property, likely setup by squatters living in the vacant home.

Del. Gov. Jack Markell will announce Thursday new education initiatives for Delaware’s most disadvantaged students.

Markell will be joined by education and community leaders to explain the new programs aimed to support local students.

State legislators and Del. Secretary of Education Mark Murphy are expected to attend along with the governor and community leaders.

The event will take place Sept. 4 at 10 a.m. at Warner Elementary School in Willmington.
 

Copyright Associated Press / NBC 10 Philadelphia