Charges filed in two of 2015's first homicides
Four days into the New Year, police have already made arrests in two of the year's first homicides, according to court records.
This post has been updated.
Four days into the New Year, police have already made arrests in two of the year's first homicides, according to court records.
In the first killing of 2015, the fatal shooting of 18-year-old Hyneaf Harris about 5:15 the morning of Jan. 1 inside a house on Philip Street near Grange, in Olney, a 16-year-old, identified in court documents as Jahkere Moore, has been charged.
Moore was arrested Jan. 2 and is being held without bail for allegedly fatally shooting Harris, who lived on the block where he was killed, in the head, court records show. He is detained at Philadelphia Industrial Correctional Center on State Road in the Northeast and is scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing Jan. 21.
In addition to murder, the teen is also charged with illegally carrying a gun, possessing a gun as a minor and possession of an instrument of crime, court records show. Police have not said what motivated the fatal shooting.
Court records also show that four people -- two women and two men -- have been charged in connection to the fatal shooting of 24-year-old Gerald Sawyer, who was found in North Philadelphia's Chalmers Park, at 29th Street and Chalmers Avenue, at 11:21 p.m. Friday with a gunshot wound to his head. Sawyer, of Arizona Street near 29th in Strawberry Mansion, was pronounced dead at Temple University Hospital at 11:30 p.m. Friday, according to police.
Charged with murder and conspiracy in connection to Sawyer's slaying are: Tameca Rivera-Griffin, 34, of Napa Street near Tasker in South Philadelphia; Semaj Lemar, 19, of Bridge Street near Eadom in Bridesburg; and Harold Boyer, 24, of Greeby Street near Charles in Mayfair, according to police. A fourth person, Fatima Moses, was also arrested in connection with the fatal shooting, according to court records, but the records show that Moses faces only illegal gun-possession charges. All four were arrested Saturday and arraigned Sunday morning, records show. Rivera, Lemar and Boyer -- each charged with a count of murder and related offenses -- were denied bail. Bail for Moses, according to court records, was set at $150,000.
Police on Sunday night said they are still looking for Wayne Brown-Griffin, of Napa Street near Tasker in South Philadelphia, in the homicide. The motive and what role each of the accused is believed to have played in the murder were not revealed by police on Sunday.
There is a $20,000 reward offered for information leading to an arrest and conviction in any city homicide. Tipsters should call 215-686-3334 or text a tip to PPD TIP (773847).
