2 Persons Of Interest Released After Northern Liberties Purse-Snatch Murder; Tipster Charged With Falsifying Reports
By Pat Loeb
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Philadelphia police have released two men they were holding in connection with the purse-snatch and murder of a young woman in Northern Liberties, Sunday (See Related Story).
KYW Newsradio's Pat Loeb reports they've now filed charges against the tipster who implicated the two.
Police are clearly angry at what spokesman, Lt. John Stanford, calls a setback in the case.
"After hours and hours of investigating and conducting several interviews, that the information that was given to them was inaccurate," Stanford said.
Police believed they were close to solving the murder of 26-year-old Amber Long, who was shot to death in front of her mother, Stephanie, by one of two purse-snatchers, who assailed the women as they walked to their car after a day out together.
A tip led police to two "persons of interest" but a search of their home revealed nothing connecting them to the murder. Stanford says police have charged the tipster, Lamar Beatty with falsifying a report.
"Investigators are starting back over, retracing their steps and still looking for the individuals responsible for this incident," Stanford said.
Stanford asks anyone with information to contact police. There is a $20,000 reward.
