Suspect arrested in fatal shooting of Philadelphia police inspector's son

PHILADELPHIA (FOX 29) - Police have arrested a man suspected of fatally shooting the son of a high-ranking city police official at a Philadelphia park.

Philadelphia police say they arrested 19-year-old Tyquan Atkinson Wednesday evening in connection to the killing of 20-year-old Nicholas Flacco. He was captured in Delaware County after a chase along the roof of a shopping center in Upland Borough, according to sources.

"We're glad we were able to bring him into custody but this won't bring Flacco back," Philadelphia Police Commissioner Richard Ross said.

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Atkinson allegedly came to a South Philadelphia park in response to a fight between women when he opened fire on a large group, killing 20-year-old Nicholas Flacco, on Saturday.

Captain Jason Smith says Flacco was with a group gathered in FDR Park after tailgating at a Phillies game. Several fights between females broke out, and an unidentified woman was heard threatening to "call her man and that they should be afraid."

Police say Atkinson fired a revolver into the air and to the side. He left but allegedly returned 10 or 15 minutes later and shot Flacco.

"They dared him to shoot them," said Smith. "They told us that they didn't believe the gun was real at that time."

Flacco was hit in the chest and was taken to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, but died there a short time later.

Flacco is the son of Chris Flacco, the chief inspector of internal affairs at the Philadelphia Police Department. Authorities say he was a college student at Penn State University who had returned home for the weekend to celebrate his birthday.

MORE: Son of Philadelphia police official shot to death | FDR Park shooting highlights violent weekend in Philadelphia

The reward being offered in Flacco's case includes $10,000 from the Philadelphia Fraternal Order of Police (FOP Lodge 5), $5,000 from the Philadelphia Firefighters and Paramedics Union Local 22, the standard $20,000 reward offered by the City of Philadelphia for all homicide cases, $1,000 from local defense attorney Joseph Kelly and $500 from a local couple.

FOP Lodge 5 President John McNesby called the murder "a senseless act of violence."

Flacco's was one of five homicides over the weekend in Philadelphia. The city has recorded 80 homicides in 2019 thus far, up eight at this time last year.

"It's extremely frustrating," said Smith. "If the community came together we wouldn't have this problem -- certainly not to this degree."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.