Philadelphia Police have arrested a fifth suspect in the bus stop shooting earlier this month that wounded eight high school students and charged one of the other suspects with murder in a separate shooting in February.
Deputy Police Commissioner Frank Vanore said the latest arrest is a 15-year-old boy who was inside a Dunkin’ by the bus stop and directed the shooters to “go,” WPVI reported.
“We now have evidence that he was in communication with the people inside that car,” said Vanore.
The three shooters were waiting inside a Honda CRV nearby, as CrimeOnline previously reported. The gunmen got out and raced across a parking lot, firing at the group of teens as they waited to get on the bus. The intended target, a 16-year-old boy, was hit nine times and hospitalized in critical condition.
The gunmen ran back to the waiting car after the shooting, and the driver sped off.
Police announced the arrest of Asir Boone, 17, in Virginia on Tuesday. Three other suspects — Jermahd Carter, 19, and Jamaal Tucker and Ahnile Buggs, both 18 — were already in jail charged in the shooting. Police said Tucker was the getaway driver.
WTXF identified the 15-year-old spotter as Jeremiah Jefferson. Vanore said Jefferson texted photos of the targets to the shooters and cautioned them not to shoot him because he was “wearing this type of clothing.”
Vanore also said that Buggs was now charged with murder in the February 15 slaying of 20-year-old Kristopher Dowling.
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[Featured image: Philadelphia Police via WPVI]