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Alleged shooter of Haver's son may take a plea

A 22-year-old man accused of shooting and nearly killing a son of the city's consumer-affairs director may plead guilty today in Common Pleas Court.

A 22-year-old man accused of shooting and nearly killing a son of the city's consumer-affairs director may plead guilty today in Common Pleas Court.

Authorities have said that Tyree Bohannon, of East Oak Lane, shot Daren Dieter in the chest and neck as Dieter and a female companion sat in a parked car outside Shrimpy's bar and restaurant, on Cheltenham Avenue near 19th Street, in West Oak Lane, on Sept. 22, 2007.

Dieter, who was paralyzed from the neck down and now uses an electric wheelchair that he controls with a straw-like tube, is a nephew of consumer-affairs director Lance Haver. Haver and his wife, Lisa, adopted Dieter when he was 9.

Dieter, now 26, and Haver are expected to appear at the Criminal Justice Center today.

"I'm doing pretty well," Dieter said by phone Friday. "I'm handling it the best I possibly can."

Bohannon, of Fairhill Street near 65th Avenue, is scheduled to face a jury trial before Judge Gwendolyn Bright.

The District Attorney Office's Web site indicates that Bohannon could offer a plea today instead of facing trial.

Assistant D.A. Peter Erdely said over the weekend that the only charge to which he would accept a plea would be attempted murder in Dieter's case, and aggravated assault in the companion's case. The companion was shot in the arm and has recovered.

Defense attorney Kevin Mincey did not return a call left at his office late Friday.

Bohannon is believed to have shot Dieter in retaliation for a previous altercation Dieter had had with a friend of Bohannon's.

Following the shooting, Bohannon fled to suburban Atlanta, Philadelphia police have said. He was nabbed in November 2007 in Jonesboro, Ga., following a routine arrest on charges of public indecency and drug possession. It was then discovered that he was wanted in connection with the shooting of Dieter.

Philly police had identified Bohannon as the gunman after releasing surveillance tape from the bar to the public. Bohannon had relatives in the Atlanta area, police have said.