Police share video showing murder of officer's son; Mistrial declared in Kenyatta Johnson case; Midweek warmup
THE RUNDOWN:
1. Hyram Hill murder: New video released in murder of Philadelphia officer's son
PHILADELPHIA – Philadelphia police have released new video in connection with the murder of a Philadelphia police officer’s son earlier this year.
During a Tuesday press conference, authorities shared a new video compilation that showed the moments leading up the shooting that killed Hyram Hill Jr.
The new video also contained images of two suspects. Police say those suspects, who they believe sell narcotics near Broad Street and Erie Avenue, were also on the scene of a domestic incident about 10-15 minutes before Hill was shot.
One of the suspects was interviewed by police on the scene of the domestic incident and was recorded on police body camera video. The initial call, which came in around 4:15 a.m. on Jan. 24, was for a report of a person breaking into a residence.
When police arrived on the scene, police say one of the suspect’s in Hill’s murder remained in the passenger seat of a 2015 Kia Forte that was reported stolen two days prior to Hill’s murder. The second suspect was captured on responding officer’s body cameras as he was interviewed regarding the domestic incident.
After the interview, police say everyone involved dispersed, and the suspects went North on Broad Street in their vehicle.
About 15 minutes later, video from the scene where Hill was shot shows him walking up to the window inside of a mini-market at Broad Street and Allegheny Avenue.
Within a minute, the suspects arrive on the scene in the stolen Kia - which they parked nearby on Rosewood Street.
One of the suspects got out of the car and approached Hill at the mini-market and engaged him in a brief conversation. Captain Smith says Hill attempted to ignore the suspect, as he was on the phone with his girlfriend at the time.
Police say the suspect then abruptly opened fire on Hill through his jacket pocket. Hill turned and attempted to flee down Allegheny Avenue, where he ran into the second suspect.
The second suspect also opened fire on Hill, forcing him to run out into the street, where he collapsed.
The suspects gathered around Hill, where police say they presumably removed items from his pockets, and then fled in the stolen Kia.
2. Kenyatta Johnson trial: Judge declares mistrial in case against councilman, wife
PHILADELPHIA – The trial for Philadelphia councilman Kenyatta Johnson and his wife has ended in a mistrial after days of jury deliberations.
In January, Johnson, 46, and his wife Dawn Chavous, 40, were indicted on fraud charges in what officials called a "widespread corruption conspiracy."
Federal authorities accused Johnson, who has been a councilman since 2012, of engaging in official actions in exchange for payments. Chavous is accused of entering into a "sham" consulting agreement with a nonprofit that was used to funnel payments to her husband, authorities say.
"We are gratified that some of the jurors appear to recognize the government did not introduce a single piece of hard evidence that either the Councilmember or Ms. Chavous did something wrong," a joint statement from Johnson's attorney's Patrick Egan and Barry Gross read.
They claimed that the 6-year investigation that included over 150 interviews and two million documents turned up no evidence of wrongdoings.
The four-week-long trial began on March 24 and prosecutors outlined their case against the councilman, including accusations that he took more than $66,000 in bribes disguised as fees paid to his wife’s consulting company.
Federal prosecutors claimed Johnson pressed for a zoning change to help increase the sale price of the former Royal Theater on South Street. They also allege he worked to keep properties along 13th and Bainbridge from being seized.
Eagan and Gross said the government's entire case "relies on the opinion of a single agent who has never served as a consultant and has no training in organizational management and has never worked with or for charter schools."
Johnson offered scant comments to reporters gathered outside the courthouse immediately following the mistrial ruling and differed shouted questions to his lawyers.
"First and foremost I just want to thank my lord and savior Jesus Christ, I want to thank all our family, friends, supporters for pray for us, showing us support during this very stressful time," Johnson said.
3. SEPTA riders no longer required to wear masks despite Philadelphia's reimposed mandate
PHILADELPHIA - On the day Philadelphia reimposed its indoor mask mandate, SEPTA announced that it's no longer requiring masks aboard vehicles or inside stations or concourses.
The decision comes hours after a federal judge in Florida struck down the national mask mandate covering airlines and other public transportation. The White House said the court ruling means that for now the mask order "is not in effect at this time."
The ruling appeared to free operators to make their own decisions about mask requirements, with several airlines announcing they would drop mandates but the New York City subway planning to keep one in place.
SEPTA announced in a tweet Monday night that "the wearing of masks aboard SEPTA vehicles and in SEPTA stations & concourses is recommended but no longer required of customers or employees."
In a statement, SEPTA spokesperson Andrew Busch said SEPTA employees working inside offices, districts and shops within Philadelphia must continue to wear masks until further notice. This decision is in accordance with Philadelphia's indoor mask mandate, Busch said.
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4. Weather Authority: Temperatures return to the 60s Wednesday, warm weekend ahead
PHILADELPHIA - Sunshine and warmer temperatures will follow in the wake of a rare spring nor'easter that brought showers and below-average conditions Tuesday.
Expect the chance of a lingering shower to last until sunset Tuesday as an area of low pressure lifts to the far north to create wrap-around moisture during the evening.
Temperatures will drop overnight into the 30s with mostly dry conditions. Philadelphia and its suburbs will bottom out around 40 degrees, while areas north and west will skew slightly cooler.
Sunshine will reemerge on Wednesday, but the temperatures will remain below average in the mid 50s to low 60s across the area. Forecasters say Wednesday’s high of 61 degrees is about five degrees below-average for this time of year.
The weather takes a turn on Friday as the temperature will stretch into the 70s, which will set the stage for a mild and mostly sunny weekend across the region.
5. Local family says man with nonverbal autism handcuffed at Philadelphia carnival
PHILADELPHIA – A Delaware County family is advocating for awareness and training after they say a family member with autism was handcuffed during an outburst of frustration at a Philadelphia circus.
Kevin Bradley, 31, has autism and is nonverbal but the joy a carnival brings him is palpable. Kevin's sister, Kylie Moreschi, who runs the non-profit Emmaus House that provides housing and services for adults with intellectual disabilities, described his love for carnivals as "one of his greatest joys in the world."
Family members now fear that Kevin's joy is forever tarnished after an incident that unfolded last week at S.E.E.Y.A carnival in South Philadelphia.
Moreschi said an Emmaus House staff member went with Kevin to the carnival run by Houghton Enterprises, Inc on Friday night. Their staff know Kevin as a long-time visitor.
Moreschi said Kevin got upset when carnival staff had to close down his favorite ride due to high winds. Since he is non-verbal, he expressed his frustration differently.
"He had some items in his backpack that he threw, he hit his staff, and again, our staff our trained to deescalate," Moreschi said. "What our staff would need is for them to back the public off, to give them and Kevin space to process what’s happening."
Instead, Houghton Enterprises hired security and Philadelphia police responded, and a crowd formed. Kevin was handcuffed, as shown in a cell phone video provided to FOX 29.
The video shows him sitting in the dirt, saying "sorry." A security officer can be heard saying, "just so you know he’s never allowed to come back here."
Another video given to FOX 29 shows police take the handcuffs off Kevin and let him sit in the staff member’s car until his house supervisor, Deraya Jones showed up. She described the scene as tense and chaotic.
"I’m like, excuse me, he needs his space, this is why it’s getting intensified instead of the opposite way, because you’re all surrounding him," Jones said.
A spokesperson for Philadelphia Police tells FOX 29 there is yearly mandatory training which does often involve crisis intervention scenarios, along with optional CIT training. Police were already stationed at the carnival as part of security detail when they were asked to assist.
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