Cousin questioned in death of corrections officer
Police this afternoon were questioning the cousin of a Philadelphia corrections officer who was found slain last night in North Philadelphia.
Police this afternoon were questioning the cousin of a Philadelphia corrections officer who was found slain last night in North Philadelphia.
Lonnie Rowland, 37, died of multiple gunshot wounds inside the home he shared with his cousin and grandmother on the 2400 block of West Elkhart Street, police said.
About 10:50 p.m., gun blasts woke the 86-year-old grandmother who was sleeping in an upstairs bedroom. She went down the stairs and discovered Rowland dead on the living room floor, police said.
A corrections officer for 12 years, Rowland most recently worked at the Cambria Community Center, a minimum security facility with 230 inmates in North Philadelphia.
"He was a good officer, dependable, well-liked and respected by his colleagues," said Bob Eskind, spokesman for the Philadelphia Prison System.
A police source said the cousin was released from prison last month.
Investigators have no motive in the slaying.
Anyone with information is asked to call homicide detectives at 215-854-3334, or the anonymous tip line: 215-686-8477 (215-686-TIPS).
