Chester curfew ends but not the violence

Less than 24 hours after Chester's state of emergency expired on Friday, the city marked its 14th homicide of the year when one of the victims of a double shooting died from his wounds.

The shooting was the second since the state of emergency was lifted.

On Friday, about two hours after a news conference was held announcing the success of the program and its controversial curfew, a 27-year-old man was shot in the back at 12:49 p.m. on Union Street near Lloyd.

That man remained in critical but stable condition at the intensive care unit of Crozer-Chester Medical Center last night, Det. James Nolan IV said.

Saturday's double shooting happened about 3:35 a.m. in front of J&S Seafood, on Kerlin Street near 8th, Nolan said.

Rahim Hicks, 21, of Chester, appears to have been the target of the shooting, police said. He was taken to Crozer-Chester, where he was pronounced dead.

A second victim, a 25-year-old man who was also shot outside the restaurant, was wounded in the arm and was treated and released.

Nolan said that there were 40 to 50 people in and around the restaurant at the time of the shooting because it's a popular stop after the clubs let out.

While Hicks is the first murder since the state of emergency was lifted, two homicides occurred while the emergency was in place.

The state of emergency was enacted following six homicides in Chester last month, including that of 2-year-old Terrence Webster, who was shot when a gunman ambushed his family.

Anyone with information on any of these cases is urged to call the Chester City Anonymous Tip Line at 610-447-7810 or Det. James Nolan at 610-447-8429.