Suspect In Custody In Connection To Mechanic's Fatal Shooting Following Police Chase, Authorities Say
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- There's a potential break in the case of two deadly shootings that took place less than a mile apart in Wissinoming Thursday. One of the victims was a beloved mechanic.
A person was taken into custody Friday, who police say may be connected to both crimes. Police sources say the person may have been a witness to the first shooting and a person of interest in the second.
A Friday night pursuit near Cottage and Bridge Streets led to the arrest of two people. At least one of the two may be connected to two murders, including the murder of 56-year-old mechanic Michael Gleba.
'A Beautiful Person': Community Remembers Beloved Mechanic Killed By Stray Bullet In Wissinoming
"As part of our review of surveillance video in the area, that vehicle is one we took notice of," Philadelphia Police Captain John Walker said.
Investigators say the vehicle was seen around the 4700 block of Benner Street Thursday around 3 p.m. when shots rang out between two groups of drug dealers.
Gleba, a long-time resident of the area and owner of Northeast Speedometer Service Auto Shop, was hit and killed by a stray bullet while working on a white SUV about a block from the shootout.
About an hour after that shooting, just blocks away on the 5500 block of Torresdale Avenue, another murder occurred. The same car involved in Friday's chase was spotted in the area.
Police sources say the drive may be connected to that second homicide as well.
"It's a car we just took notice to being in the area of the murder of 5537 Torresdale yesterday, so we also saw the car and recognized it right away so we wanted to have a conversation with the gentlemen who took off, but now because he crashed into this car, he's going to be charged," Walker said.
The suspect's identity has not been released.
