4 Charged In West, Southwest Philly Retaliatory Shootings

Philadelphia PA

01 March, 2021

1:55 PM

Description

PHILADELPHIA — Authorities in Philadelphia said they have made arrests in connection with a series of retaliatory shooting that occurred in west and southwest Philadelphia in 2018 and 2019. District Attorney Larry Krasner said Monday that members of armed rival groups in West and Southwest Philadelphia have been arrested and charged. A grand jury charged Devin Brian, 22; Dashawn Packer, 20; Xavier Veney, 22; and Sabir Scott, 26 in connection with seven shooting that hurt nine people. Among those shot were an 8 year old, several teenagers, and a 54 year old. Brian is accused of shooting a 19-year-old in April 2018. Packer is alleged to have been involved in five shooting that hurt seven people. The shootings occurred in July, August, and November 2018, authorities said. Veney is accused of participating in one of those five shootings, according to authorities. Veney is also accused of a July 2019 shooting, in which Scott is also accused of being involved in, authorities said. Philadelphia District Attorney's Office Brian and Scott were arrested by Philadelphia Police in February and are each being held in custody on $1 million bail. Packer is in state custody serving a sentence for a prior conviction, and Veney is in federal custody awaiting trial on a different case. Both are awaiting transport and arraignment in Philadelphia County. The investigation was led by ADAs Brian Burke and Jeff Palmer and conducted with Philadelphia Police. They identified the four defendants as members of rival groups involved in serial retaliatory shootings in West and Southwest Philadelphia The groups refer to themselves as Northside; Southside; 02da4; 61st & Jefferson, aka Hilltop, aka Fixers; and 66th & Lansdowne, which is closely affiliated with 61st & Jefferson. The Investigating Grand Jury concluded that group members engaged in back-and-forth provocations using online platforms and social media apps, including Instagram, that culminated in shootings. The 8-year-old and 54-year-old shooting survivors were bystanders who had no affiliation with these violent, rival groups. Detectives and police officers recovered cell phones, obtained social media and phone records, interviewed witnesses, and reviewed ballistic evidence and videos collected from crime scenes in 2018 and 2019. Information gathered from this evidence and witnesses enabled them to identify individuals responsible for some of the shootings related to this group violence. Ballistic evidence including fired cartridge casings were recovered from various crime scenes and analyzed by the Firearms Identification Unit and the National Integrated Ballistics Information Network, which is administered by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. All four men face firearm violation charges. Packer is also being charged with four counts attempted murder, five counts of aggravated Assault, two counts of criminal conspiracy, six counts of recklessly endangering another person, discharge of a firearm into an occupied structure, and related offenses. Brian will additionally be charged with attempted murder; aggravated assault, and related offenses. Veney will be charged with three counts of attempted murder, three counts of aggravated assault, three counts of recklessly endangering another person, criminal conspiracy, and related offenses. Scott is being charged with attempted murder, criminal conspiracy, aggravated Assault, and related offenses.