Kmart shooting suspect kills self

The man accused of shooting a Kmart store worker yesterday shot and killed himself this morning as police attempted to arrest him in Northeast Philadelphia.

Daryl Anthony Birch, 30, was found dead at 7:30 a.m. in his house in the city's Olney section on 100 block of Albanus Street.

A SWAT team had amassed on the 100 block of Albanus Street early this morning as detectives prepared to serve Birch with a warrant.

"Birch shot himself in the head in the upstairs front bedroom," said Lt. George McClay of the Northwest detectives. "He got scared."

Investigators launched a manhunt for Birch yesterday after he critically injured an employee at the Kmart store on the 8800 block of Frankford Ave.

Birch had been arguing with his girlfriend, who also worked at the store, when the 35-year-old employee tried to intervene in the quarrel. Police said Birch opened fire inside the store near the loading-dock area, striking the victim in the head chest and one arm.

Birch's mother stood on Albanus Street this morning and watched as her son's body was removed from the house in a bright blue bag.

"He had a bad relationship," said Sandra Timson. "I knew something was coming, but I didn't know he was going to kill himself."

Timson, 52, said her son had five children by two women. He had juggled relationships with his girlfriend and his wife for 10 years. Earlier this year, his wife filed for divorce.

Timson said both women would be barred from attending her son's funeral.

Birch owned three houses, his mother said, including the rowhouse he shared on Albanus Street with his girlfriend and three kids.

His brother, Roger Fletcher, 29, said Birch was a hard worker and usually a very quiet man.

"He just got backed into a corner and for the first time in his life he didn't know what to do," Fletcher said.

Birch, his mother said, worked as a security guard and was licensed to carry a gun.

"He had a license to kill," Timson said. "But not anyone like that."