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2 charged in death of auto shop owner killed by stray bullets

Published  April 25, 2019 1:17pm EDT
U.S.
FOX 29 Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA (FOX 29) - Philadelphia police have arrested and charged two men with murder in the death of an auto mechanic shop owner earlier this month.

Eric Smith, 25, and Shabazz Sweets, 19, have been taken into custody in the death of 56-year-old Michael Gleba.

Police say Gleba was struck by stray bullets during a shootout on the 4800 block of Benner Street back on April 11.

Gleba owned Northeast Speedometer Service, which is an auto mechanic shop at Benner and Edmund Street. He was working under the hood of a white Nissan Murano when several stray bullets hit him.

MORE: Wissinoming auto mechanic shop owner shot, killed

Authorities say a group of men were sitting on the steps of a house on the 4700 block of Benner Street when another group came out of an alleyway at Hellerman and Benner. Police say the group on the steps fired about 15 shots from a 45 caliber handgun. Gleba was hit several times.

Smith and Sweets have both been charged with murder, criminal conspiracy, and related offenses.