Woman arrested in MD for Cobbs Creek murder

Authorities in Maryland last night arrested a 29-year-old woman wanted in Philadelphia for the slaying of her 53-year-old mother inside her Cobbs Creek home, a Philadelphia police spokeswoman said.

Police said Jahina Damon waived extradition and was in custody in Hagerstown, Maryland. She is expected to arrive in Philadelphia late next week to face arson and murder charges in connection with the death of Lolita Lee.

Homicide detectives said Damon was taken into custody after a family member tipped off police to her whereabouts.

Damon arrived at Lee's home in the 6000 block of Cobbs Creek Parkway before dawn yesterday and shot Lee and fired at two other people in the house - but missed. police said. Afterward, Damon set the home on fire.

Police were called to the home after reports of gunfire about 5:10 a.m. Officers found heavy smoke coming out of the first floor and notified the Fire Department. The blaze was brought under control at 5:33 a.m.

Lee's body was found in the kitchen, police said. She had been shot at least once in the chest. Firefighters said her body had been burned beyond recognition.

Police said another woman who had been in the home when Damon arrived drove herself to Delaware County Memorial Hospital to seek treatment for serious burns.

She was taken to Crozer-Chester Medical Center, where she was listed in critical condition. The other person in the house during the attack, a man authorities said was Lolita Lee's boyfriend, was not injured. The names of the others in the home were not released.

Police said Damon, whose last known address was her mother's home, has a history of mental illness. Police yesterday did not know the motive for the incident.