The boy was walking home from James J. Sullivan School when he was struck by gunfire from the back seat of a red or maroon Pontiac G6, Deputy Commissioner Joseph P. Sullivan said.
Sources familiar with the investigation said Michael Blackston, 29, was believed to have been a member of a violent drug organization operating in North and Northwest Philadelphia. At least one of his new cases is connected to his open murder case scheduled for trial in February.
The suspect, who was taken into custody in Chester, Delaware County, was expected to be charged with murder, nine counts of attempted murder, and conspiracy in the death of toddler Nikolette Rivera.
A judge rejected The Inquirer’s request to release juror names, citing ugly comments already directed toward relatives of both Sean Schellenger and Michael White.
Neighbors constructed a memorial outside the rowhouse in which a 2-year-old was fatally shot Sunday, and city officials on Monday held a somber news conference lamenting two incidents this weekend in which young children were struck by gunfire.
Michael White's aunt and uncle said Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and even Craigslist have been awash in threats and racist tirades, leaving them scared for White's safety. Linda Schellenger also says she has received ugly Internet commentary.
The panel of eight women and four men deliberated for about eight hours before announcing the verdict. The jurors voted to convict White of tampering with evidence, but cleared him of all other charges.
Did Michael White insert himself into a dispute and escalate it by pulling a knife before stabbing Sean Schellenger in the back near Rittenhouse Square last year? Or was he acting in self-defense after Schellenger uttered a racial insult and charged him? Jurors must decide.
Michael White, accused of fatally stabbing real estate developer Sean Schellenger near Rittenhouse Square last year, testified Tuesday that Schellenger said those words to him before trying to tackle him.
