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Woman wanted in connection with hit-and-run that killed 4-year-old in Kingsessing turns herself in (updated)

Posted on 29 July 2015 by Mike Lyons

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Shanika Mason in police custody on Wednesday. Screen shot from CBS3 video.

Police say a woman surrendered this morning in connection with the hit-and-run collision in April that killed a 4-year-old boy.

The black Ford Edge that police believe struck Abdul Wilson near the corner of 57th and Florence was recovered the following day, April 15, in a parking lot under Love Park in Center City, according to reports. Since then, the owner of the vehicle has apparently been negotiating with police through an attorney to turn herself in, which she did this morning.

CBS Philly is reporting that the woman is 27-year-old Shanika Mason of Sharon Hill. According to police, Mason works as a dietary aide in Haverford. Police could not confirm if charges have been filed. We will keep you posted.

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Police charge handyman in murder of Jasmine Wright (updated)

Posted on 24 July 2015 by Mike Lyons

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Jasmine Wright

Police have charged a 56-year-old handyman in the murder of West Philly resident and Drexel University graduate Jasmine Wright.

Police allege that James Harris, who police say has an extensive arrest record, sexually assaulted and strangled Wright, 27, in her apartment near 50th and Locust. Her body was found on July 15, about 24 hours after the murder.

Harris worked in the building but was fired about a week earlier, according to reports. Police say he still had a set of keys to the building and that his fingerprints and DNA were found on the scene.

Wright, who received her master’s degree at Drexel University’s School of Public Health a few weeks ago, was found beaten and strangled last Thursday afternoon in a bedroom of her third floor apartment after her father had tried to reach her by phone and finally asked the property manager to check on her.

Originally from New York City, Wright received her bachelor’s degree at Pennsylvania State University. She had lived in West Philly for about two years while she was attending Drexel’s graduate program. Her neighbors described her as a quiet and sweet girl, who mostly kept to herself. Her friends remember her as a funny and caring woman.

Harris had 31 prior arrests, police said, including sexual assaults. He was also convicted in 1982 for the murder of his own father. He had been in custody since July 19, when he was detained on suspicion of robbery and trespassing for re-entering the building.

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Triple shooting near 46th and Market (updated)

Posted on 21 July 2015 by WestPhillyLocal.com

UPDATE (7/22/2015, 11:30 a.m.): More details are in on Tuesday night’s shooting near 46th and Market. Police say a gunman fired at least six shots at a group of people walking down the steps on the north side of Market Street near the El stop. Police followed a trail of blood from the shooting scene to the nearby Westpark Apartments complex. Two females, ages 16 and 19, and a 17-year-old male were shot in their legs and feet and were taken to the hospital. The 19-year-old woman was with two young children, who were not injured in the shooting, according to reports. Police said the gunman was in a black sedan. No physical description of the shooter was available.

One of the victims told police that the shooting stemmed from an ongoing dispute between people who frequent or live in the Westpark Apartments complex near 46th and Market who call themselves the “Jet Boys” and a group from near 51st and Parrish who call themselves the “Pit Boys,” according to a police report.

7/21/2015, 11:32 p.m.: Police are reporting that three people, two females and one male, were shot Tuesday night shortly before 11 p.m. near 46th and Market. The victims were taken to the hospital with leg wounds, according to police. Stay tuned for more information.

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Service, candlelight vigil tonight for Jasmine Wright, the young woman found dead last week in 50th St. apartment

Posted on 20 July 2015 by WestPhillyLocal.com

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Jasmine Wright

A Healing For The Community service followed by a candlelight vigil for 27-year-old Jasmine Wright, the woman found dead in her 50th Street apartment last week, will take place tonight, from 7 – 8 p.m. at Monumental Baptist Church, 4948 Locust St.

Wright, who received her master’s degree at Drexel University’s School of Public Health a few weeks ago, was found beaten and strangled in her apartment on the 200 block of S. 50th Street, police said. Her body was found last Thursday afternoon in a bedroom of her third floor apartment after her father had tried to reach her by phone and finally asked the property manager to check on her. Police said she may have been dead for 24 hours. There were no signs of forced entry into the apartment, which made police believe that Jasmine may have known her attacker.

On Saturday, police were questioning a person of interest, reportedly a handyman who had access to Jasmine’s home. No arrests have been made yet.

Originally from New York City, Wright received her bachelor’s degree at Pennsylvania State University. She had lived in West Philly for about two years while she was attending Drexel’s graduate program. Her neighbors described her as a quiet and sweet girl, who mostly kept to herself. Her friends remember her as a funny and caring woman.

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Young woman found beaten, strangled in her apartment near 50th and Locust (updated)

Posted on 16 July 2015 by WestPhillyLocal.com

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Jasmine Wright (Facebook photo).

UPDATE (7/17/2015): Police have identified the victim as 27-year-old Jasmine Wright. Wright’s body was found with head and neck injuries, and she appeared to have been beaten and strangled. The Philadelphia Inquirer reporters spoke to Wright’s neighbors who described her as a quiet, sweet and beautiful girl who mostly stayed by herself. According to Wright’s Facebook page, she graduated from Drexel University School of Public Health last month.

The investigation continues.

(7/16/2015, 7:15 p.m.): A 27-year-old woman was found dead Thursday afternoon in her apartment on the 200 block of S. 50th Street, according to various reports. The woman was reportedly beaten and strangled. She lived alone in the apartment. She was pronounced dead on the scene at around 2:35 p.m., police told The Philadelphia Inquirer. According to police, the woman was found by the property manager of her apartment building after her father had tried calling her for several days. Police found no sign of break in, and nothing was taken from the apartment.

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Group assaults, robs a man near 45th and Osage

Posted on 07 July 2015 by WestPhillyLocal.com

Police released more information on the robbery and assault that took place on Monday night, shortly after 10 p.m., near 45th and Osage Ave. A 23-year-old man was walking in the area and noticed a group of five young males walking on the other side of the street. The males ran up to the young man, punched him, knocked him to the ground and continued punching him repeatedly. They ran away when a car pulled over to help. The attackers took the victim’s cell phone, according to police.

The young man, a Spruce Hill resident, suffered a chipped tooth and other injuries. The investigation continues.

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