IS A JAMAICAN DIS? – PHILLY, CAUGHT ON TAPE

Philadelphia News, Weather and Sports from WTXF FOX 29

It started as a birthday party. It ended in an argument and gunfire with a suspect randomly firing into a crowded “illegal” speak easy on the 500 block of Lindley Street in Olney. It was all caught on tape.

“We’re lucky we only have one victim right now,” said Lt. George McClay of Northwest Detectives. “Anything can happen to you in a place like this.”

Police say the suspect uses the street name “soldier” and he fired at least three shots, wounding one man and terrifying 30 others inside the makeshift club. He was caught on tape returning to the scene to recover a cell phone he dropped during the shooting.

“He now comes back into camera view. Picks up his cell phone and runs,” McClay explained.

“I heard the shots, saw the people running,” said David Ayers who was watching TV when he heard the gunshots. He lives right across the street with his son.

“You can’t have that running around the city. They city’s bad enough as it is,” he told FOX 29.

“This place has been under the radar,” McClay said.

Inspectors from the Department of Licenses and Inspections shut the place down. The owner of the building told FOX 29 he rents the place to another man, who installed the surveillance cameras. He did want to be identified.

“You can’t come to peoples’ place and shoot up peoples’ place, a birthday party. A party. That’s terrible,” he told reporter Dave Schratwieser in an exclusive interview.

Police believe the one story garage has been operating as a speak easy for a while. There’s two bars, a dance pole and big screen TV. Neighbors are glad it has been closed down.

“That’s what they have nightclubs for,” Ayers said. “Delaware Avenue’s got clubs open all night for stuff like that.”

“We have a great video. If I get a name, our complainant is willing to cooperate and we want to put this guy away,” McClay said.

Police describe the suspect as a muscular, Jamaican male, 6’2″ and weighing 200 pounds. He has a shaved head. Police say he uses the street name “soldier.” If you have any information on the suspect, you’re asked to call Northwest Detectives or 911..