Briefly... CITY/REGION

It was no suicide: Teen charged

Police have charged a teenager with murdering a West Philadelphia man whose shooting death was initially thought to be suicide.

Jeremy Robinson, 19, of 61st Street near Thompson, was found at 11:15 p.m. Tuesday on the second floor of his home with a gunshot wound to the head, police said. He was taken to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and pronounced dead at 3:31 a.m. on Wednesday.

Malik Williams, 18, of Felton Street near Master, was arrested yesterday and charged with murder and related offenses.

Shooting leaves man 'critical'

A 36-year-old man was in critical condition yesterday after he was shot in East Germantown the previous night, police said.

The man, whom police did not identify, was found with gunshot wounds to the back at 11:46 p.m. Thursday on Champlost Avenue near 19th Street, police said. He was taken to Albert Einstein Medical Center.

Killing defendant balks at plea

Donte Johnson, the North Philadelphia man charged with raping and murdering a popular Northern Liberties waitress, did not plead guilty yesterday as expected, but instead hired a new attorney.

Johnson, 18, has already confessed to raping and murdering Sabina Rose O'Donnell, 20, near her N. 4th Street apartment on June 2.

His new attorney, Douglas Dolfman, however, wants to review discovery information before deciding how to plead, said Assistant District Attorney Richard Sax.

Police said Johnson, of N. 11th Street, told homicide detectives that he first attacked O'Donnell in the early-morning hours to steal the bicycle she was riding.

During the attack, Johnson dragged O'Donnell behind her apartment building, strangled her with her bra strap and raped her, police said.

Treasurer wins gaming ruling

State Treasurer Rob McCord won an important round yesterday in his lawsuit against the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, as a state court ruled that the treasurer's office may be entitled to participate in the board's closed-door sessions.

In a 6-0 ruling, the Commonwealth Court rejected the board's preliminary objections to the lawsuit McCord filed in May. McCord has said he filed the suit so he could fully carry out his role of ensuring that taxpayers get a fair return from the casinos.

2 charged in theft, beating

Two Philadelphia men have been charged with pistol-whipping a Cinnaminson, N.J., man after he won $2,000 at SugarHouse Casino on Oct. 16.

Cinnaminson police said yesterday that Christopher Featherstone, 22, and David Riley, 20, followed the 26-year-old victim home and attacked him after he exited a cab.

The pair are currently being held by Philadelphia police for other alleged crimes, will be extradited to Jersey, where they will face charges of robbery, aggravated assault and related offenses.

- Staff and wire reports