SEPTA Officer shot in Frankford released from hospital; Gun violence grips Philly; Cooler Easter weekend ahead

THE RUNDOWN: 

1. 'Truly heroic': SEPTA Transit Officer injured in Frankford shootout released from hospital

PHILADELPHIA – A SEPTA Transit Officer who was shot during a firefight with a suspect in Frankford last week is expected to be released from the hospital on Friday. 

Investigators say Officer Ervis Onuzi, 28, was shot in the abdomen when a gunman who fled a triple shooting near Arrott Transportation Center barricaded himself inside an apartment building and opened fire on responding officers. 

Officer Onuzi was wheeled out of the hospital in a wheelchair, per protocol, but he stood up and walked to a waiting SEPTA Police SUV. SEPTA Police Chief Thomas Nestel told reporters that Officer Onunzi was "very annoyed" that he had to use a wheelchair, and he wanted to walk down from the 9th floor. 

According to authorities, on April 6 officers from the Philadelphia Police Department responded to the 4700 block of Penn Street after hearing 8-9 gunshots.

The gunshots stemmed from a physical altercation between the suspect, 18-year-old Zyhiem Hartman, and another man, police said. It's believed that Hartman fired at the man, striking him once in the neck, while he was walking away. Two women, ages 52 and 42, were hit in the lower body by apparent stray gunfire. 

Police spotted Hartmanin a black hooded sweatshirt running down the 1600 block of Arrott Street and gave chase, police said. Officer and witnesses saw Hartman run into a property on the 4700 block of Arrott Street. 

Police requested for long-gun trained officers and SEPTA Police Officer Ervis Onuzi responded to the scene, according to investigators. Officer Onuzi was shot in the abdomen while attempting to take cover behind a patrol vehicle, police said. 

"He was the pillar of courage and valor and we watch the video now and hear his words from the body camera , what he did that day was truly heroic and was done to save the lives of other police officers," Nestle said.

Nestel said video and audio from Onuzi's body camera shows him announce covering fire for officers who were pinned down by the gunman. Onuzi is expected to make a full recovery, but Nestel described his gunshot wound as serious which requires a long road to recovery.

"He's had a struggle, the last 8-9 days have been tough, yesterday he had another surgery and after that it was as if he was a new person," Nestel said.

Police Sargent Eric Gripp told reporters that authorities used technology to determine that Hartman was down near a second floor window. Police initially thought he died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, but police said Friday that a medical examiner determined that he was shot by police. 

Nestel said he and Officer Onuzi had a long discussion about his future as a police officer, and he expects him to rejoin the force in time. 

"Officer Onuzi is not done with policing, he'll be back."

2. New Jersey to begin recreational marijuana sales next week, governor says

TRENTON – New Jersey residents over 21-years-old will be allowed to purchase recreational marijuana in the Garden State next week, according to Governor Phil Murphy. 

Call it a coincidence, but the newly-reelected governor said New Jerseyans can purchase pot without a medical marijuana card starting on 4/21.

The news comes about a year after the state's regulatory commission started operating, and a year and a half after voters overwhelmingly approved a ballot question to permit recreational marijuana for people 21 and older.

New Jersey is one of 18 states, along with the District of Columbia, that have legalized recreational marijuana. There also are 37 states, including New Jersey, that have legalized medical marijuana.

Three of the seven facilities, known as alternative treatment centers, are in the northern part of the state. Three are in the south, and one is in central New Jersey.

To get approval, the centers agreed that the coming influx of recreational buyers won't interrupt access for patients. The facilities said they would reserve parking spaces for patients as well as keep hours specifically for patients only.

There are about 130,000 medical marijuana patients in the state, with an estimated roughly 800,000 potential recreational consumers, and fewer than 800,000 estimated "tourism" consumers, according to the commission.

3. 5 dead, more than a dozen hurt after spate of shootings across Philadelphia Thursday, Friday

PHILADELPHIA – At least five people have died and more than a dozen have been injured during a violent 24-hour span in Philadelphia. 

Between 5:30 a.m. Thursday and 5:30 a.m. Friday, police tell FOX 29 a total of 24 people were shot and five of them died. Six of the incidents under investigation taking place within about an hour of each other, starting around 2 p.m. Thursday. 

Among those killed since Thursday afternoon are a young man believed to be in his twenties, two 32-year-old men, and a 31-year-old man. FOX 29’s Steve Keeley reports that a 33-year-old man also died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in an incident that also left a woman injured. 

4. Nuclear gauge containing sources of radioactive material taken from vehicle in Philadelphia

NORRISTOWN, Pa. – Environmental officials in Pennsylvania say a portable nuclear gauge that contains sealed sources of radioactive material is missing from a vehicle that was stolen in Philadelphia.

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) on Friday said the device should not be handled directly and anyone who finds it should maintain distance and limit their time around the device. 

The device was inside a vehicle when it was stolen in Philadelphia, officials said. The vehicle was later recovered, but the gauge was missing and officials believe that it may have been discarded.

Officials say the missing nuclear gauge belongs to a construction inspection and testing company in Montgomery County. The device is used to "evaluate the properties of building and road-bed materials at construction sites throughout the commonwealth." 

"It is critical for anyone who has information about the lost nuclear gauge to contact authorities or DEP," DEP Bureau of Radiation Protection Director David Allard said. "As long as the device is not tampered with or damaged, it presents no hazard to public safety."

Officials say the radioactive material contained within the gauge is believed to be in a safe, shielded position, but they fear it may have been damaged when the vehicle was stolen.

5. 'A heinous killing': Philly man shot pregnant mother of 3 to death at Pennsylvania gas station, DA says

PHILADELPHIA – A Philadelphia man who was wanted for the murder of a pregnant woman in Upper Merion on Friday has been charged after turning himself in, the Montgomery County District Attorney announced. 

According to officials, 38-year-old Rafiq Thompson is facing first-degree murder, Death of an Unborn Child, and related charges connected to the shooting death of 31-year-old Tamara Cornelius last week.

Police say the shooting took place at an Exxon gas station before 11 p.m. on North Gulph Road and West Dekalb Pike. 

Officials said that Thompson and Cornelius had a previous relationship, and in the days prior to her murder Thompson texted her over 90 times and called her 20 times.

The pair agreed to meet at Cheesecake Factory in the King of Prussia Mall around 9 p.m. on April 8th, but Thompson left before the food came, investigators said.

It's believed that Thompson followed Cornelius as she left the restaurant at 10:15 p.m., walked to the parking garage and then drove to the Exxon gas station. 

Police say as she was pumping gas when Thompson pulled up behind her with his headlights turned off. He briefly spoke to Cornelius, then fired a handgun at her several times, according to police. 

Prosecutors on Thursday shared more information about Thompson's violent past. In 2018, Thompson was sentenced to 3-6 years for intentionally striking his ex-girlfriend with his car and seriously injuring her two years earlier. She had an active protection from abuse order against Thompson.

The Pennsylvania State Patrol Board said Thompson was granted parole for several reasons, including completion of certain programs. He was released to community supervision in June 2019 after serving the minimum three years. 

6. Nice Saturday morning ahead of storms, cooler temperatures for Easter

PHILADELPHIA – Friday proved very spring-like across the Delaware Valley with comfortable temperatures in the 60s and plenty of sunshine.

This is ahead of a pattern change arriving Saturday afternoon, FOX 29’s Scott Williams says, which will set temperatures for East Sunday below average, into the 40s for the morning and only topping out in the mid 50s.

Saturday, we should expect rain chances by about 3 p.m. through 8 p.m., when temperatures will begin to sink into the lower 50s, after a daytime high in the mid to upper 60s.

Conditions could be clear and dry overnight Sunday into Monday that we could see patchy frost. Rain chances remain into Tuesday before temperatures begin to rebound toward the end of next week.

More Headlines From FOX 29

• Philadelphia officials consider resolution designating Kensington a FEMA site
• Nursing home employee arrested after assault on a resident, police say
• 'Enough is enough': Community comes together to call for justice in killing of 15-year-old Sean Toomey
• ACCT Philly overwhelmed with dog surrenders since the pandemic
• 18-year-old shot to death in West Philadelphia, police say

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