NEWS RELEASE

Lansdale Police assist Philadelphia Police in locating a homicide suspect and the recovery of three small children

On Sunday, December 18, 2022, Lansdale Police assisted the Philadelphia Police Department, in locating three small children who were taken from their mother after she was murdered in Philadelphia earlier in the day.  The Lansdale Police Department extends our deepest sympathies to the families of the victims involved in this tragic and senseless event.

On Sunday, December 18, 2022, at approximately 8:43 PM, officers of the Lansdale Police Department were called to assist the Philadelphia Police Department in locating a homicide suspect whose last known location was on Route 63 in Lansdale Borough. 

Utilizing the Lansdale Borough Watch camera system, officers were able to isolate the vehicle to a West Ward neighborhood, locating it a short time later near the intersection of Derstine and Susquehanna Avenues.

Officers then followed the vehicle to the intersection of West Main Street and South Valley Forge Road, in Lansdale, where they stopped the vehicle.  Within moments after the traffic stop, the driver, and sole occupant of the vehicle, took his life through a self-inflicted gunshot wound. 

The vehicle then proceeded to roll northbound on North Valley Forge Road to West Second Street where it stopped after striking the curb. Officers secured the area and upon approach to the vehicle located a male deceased in the driver’s seat.  This subject was confirmed to be the individual sought by Philadelphia Police.

Philadelphia Police further advised they were also attempting to locate three children who were taken from the homicide scene in Philadelphia and may have been inside the vehicle at the time it was stopped. However, a search of the vehicle determined the driver was the sole occupant. Within a few minutes officers were able to locate the children, unharmed, at a residence in Lansdale Borough.

The Lansdale Police Department was assisted by Towamencin Police Department, Upper Gwynedd Police Department, Montgomery Township Police Department, Philadelphia Police Department’s Detective and Aviation Divisions as well as the Hatfield Township Police Department.

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