Witness silence in shootings turning Upper Darby into 'Baghdad'

When living victims of violence become as tight-lipped as dead ones, and when the community begs for help but doesn't provide it, neighborhoods can quickly degenerate into "war zones," Upper Darby police said yesterday.

At a news conference, Police Superintendent Michael Chitwood and Capt. George Rhoades Jr. blasted uncooperative witnesses, and announced warrants for suspects in two recent daylight shootings at an area playground.

"The community always asks, 'What are the police going to do about the violence?' " Chitwood said. "My response is: 'What's the community going to do about the violence?' "

Police said that despite a total of about 150 witnesses at the recent shootings at the Second Ward Playground in the township's Stonehurst section, "very few" people came forward.

On Saturday about 6:47 p.m., Aaron Kearney, 19, was killed by one of 11 shots fired near Greenwood and Crosley avenues, which is close to the playground.

Police found 11 casings at the scene but recovered just one bullet - the one lodged in Kearney's chest. "At least" 100 people were at the playground at the time of the shooting, Chitwood said.

According to police reports, Taaqi "Fame" Brown, 20, of Wyneva Street near Keyser, in Germantown, thought that a friend with whom Kearney was walking had stolen marijuana from him.

As Kearney and his friend left the playground, an unidentified man whom Brown was allegedly with opened fire on the pair, killing Kearney.

Police, who have been unable to locate Brown, issued a warrant for his arrest on charges that include homicide and aggravated assault. The identity of his alleged accomplice, the shooter, is still under investigation, Chitwood said.

On March 8 about 5:28 p.m., an unidentified victim was shot in the head, kidney and leg at another intersection near the playground, Crosley Avenue and Seaford Road.

The victim survived the attack, but he has been "completely uncooperative" since, Rhoades said.

"We have had to investigate this matter as a homicide even though we had a live victim who knew who shot him," Rhoades said.

Identified by police as the shooter in that incident was Donte Brown, 18, of Cypress Street near Baily Road, in Yeadon. He was still at large yesterday.

Police said that both incidents arose from drug-related arguments. As residents and witnesses continue to withhold information about shootings out of fear or distrust, "our community is becoming like Baghdad," Chitwood said.

"I think there's a lot of good people out there," he said, "but you cannot enjoy a quality of life without getting involved."

Tipsters are asked to call Upper Darby police at 610-734-7677.