Weekend crime roundup: Woman’s body found in burning car (UPDATED)
A man and a woman were killed in two separate incidents overnight.
Officers responding to the 5200 block of Delancey Street in West Philadelphia shortly after 11:15 p.m. found James Beaty, 24, lying on the steps of a home. He had been shot multiple times in the torso and was pronounced dead at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.
Firemen battling a car blaze on the 4500 block of North 3rd Street in Feltonville around 2:30 a.m. found the body of an unknown woman in the passenger seat. There were two bullets holes in the passenger door of the 2002 Chrysler Sebring. Investigators have not yet identified the woman and the motive is unknown at this time.
A high-speed police chase ended in tragedy and two men were killed in two separate violent incidents, all within an hour Friday night.
Officers stopped a silver 2001 Volkswagen Passat for traffic violations on the 4200 block of North Broad Street in Nicetown shortly before 10 p.m. When they asked the driver for his license, he replied, “No, but I got this,” pointed a black handgun at the officer and took off.
Police and helicopters followed him on a high-speed chase that ended at 1000 West Ontario Street in Hunting Park, where he t-boned a tan 1995 Honda Accord, killing a male passenger and injuring the driver and her four-year-old son. Police have identified the passenger as Danny Irizarry Roman, 36, of the 4800 block of North 8th Street in Olney.
The four-year-old was initially in critical condition at St. Christopher Hospital with head injuries, but has been upgraded to stable condition as of this morning. The mother, 26, remains in critical condition at Temple University Hospital.
The driver of the striking car tried to flee on foot after the crash, but was caught by police on the 900 block of West Russell Street.
Police have identified him as Gregory Alston, 39, of the 4500 block of Fernhill Street in Germantown. He is charged with murder, homicide by vehicle and gun charges.
Alston has a criminal record ranging back 20 years with nearly two dozen charges, according to court documents. He was last sentenced in August of 2011 for a drug offense. Other charges of which he has been convicted include aggravated assault, receiving stolen property, drug possession with the intent to manufacture or deliver, criminal conspiracy and gun offenses.
Two other men were killed in two separate incidents Friday night.
Officers responded to a home on the 2300 block of West Sergeant Street in North Philadelphia around 10:30 p.m., where they found Reginald Reed, 46, with a stab wound to the chest. He was taken to Temple University Hospital, where he died shortly after midnight.
An initial investigation revealed Reed was involved in a physical confrontation with his 60-year-old brother, who was taken into custody.
Police found John McCorkle, 28, a half an hour later on the 4500 block of North 8th Street in Olney. He was rushed to Temple University Hospital in critical condition with a gunshot wound to the chest and died around 11:30 p.m. There is no word on a motive or arrest.
