Philly police use good old-fashioned police work, new technology to identify mass shooting suspects

The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that police initially had no leads in the case. However, they vowed to use “every legal and constitutional tool” available. Just two days later, police made their first arrest in the case and implemented a number of different methods to do so–surveillance video, search warrants, and a recorded prison call. 

This Monday, officials announced they had arrested two suspects– Jamaal Tucker and Ahnile Buggs, both 18 years old. 

The two men were each charged with one count of attempted murder, conspiracy, and illegal gun possession, in addition to seven counts of aggravated assault and other crimes. A third arrest was affected on Tuesday when police picked up Jermahd Carter, 19. 

Police have remained tight-lipped about some details of the investigation, including motive since there is a fourth suspect who remains at large. However, court filings paint a picture of how police responded to the shooting. 

At around 3:00 p.m. on the date in question, police received reports of multiple individuals being shot in the “Five Points” area of the city, where students transfer buses to go home from school. On arrival, officers found several students, ages 15 to 17, on the sidewalk and in the street, some bleeding heavily. The teens were rushed to various hospitals in the city. 

Video surveillance obtained by police showed a blue Hyundai in the parking lot of a nearby Dunkin’ Donuts located adjacent to the bus stop. Three men dressed in black were seen exiting the car and opening fire on the kids at the bus stop as the driver remained in the car. Thirty shots later, they got back in the Hyundai and fled the scene. 

Unfortunately for police, the Hyundai had been reported stolen the week before, complicating the investigation. The car was later recovered and towed for further investigation. 

A crime scene unit began collecting DNA evidence from the Hyundai as investigators returned to the area where the car was recovered to collect video evidence. One video showed the car arriving in the alleyway at 3:11 p.m. on the date of the shooting, and four men dressed in black clothing were identified as suspects in the shooting. The suspects then entered a home on the block that was identified using video. 

That led to Tucker being identified as a suspect. 

Police were able to obtain cellphone tower data to crosscheck the various events that took place, including the theft of the Kia Sportage (that was recovered where the Hyundai was stolen from), the theft of the Hyundai, the Five Points shooting, and the alleway where the Hyundai was recovered. 

An arrest warrant affidavit said, “the activity of these devices was consistent with the activities of the offenders as known to the investigation at the time.” 

One of those cell phones was linked to a female cross-referenced in school district records as being the guardian of Anhile Buggs. 

Officers conducted a search warrant at a home on the 400 block of Fern St, where the home was located that the suspects had entered. At that location, police found a Polymer 80 Jig used to assemble firearm kits of the same brand, as well as mail addressed to Tucker. Investigators searched Tucker’s most recent address, where 30 rounds of .45 caliber ammunition were recovered. 

Tucker turned himself in to authorities later that night. 

The prison call came into play when police reviewed a call made by an inmate, Dontaz McMillian to the number connected to Buggs. McMillan called the person on the other side of the line nephew, who referred to McMillan as “unc.” 

“I heard about your man, you good?” McMillan asked Buggs during the call, to which he replied, “Nah.” 

“Yeah, it’s never easy to digest,” McMillan replied. 

Based on the context of that call, authorities tied it to a murder that had taken place on March 4 as students from a local charter school made their way home from school. In that casse, two young masked men in hoodies shot at a group of students boarding a SEPTA bus. One student, Dayemen Taylor, 17, was struck multiple times and succumbed to his wounds. Two other students were injured, as well as two women on the bus, aged 50 and 71. 

Police have yet to rule out a connection between the two shootings, although they’ve refused to identify a possible motive. 

Buggs was taken into custody by Philadelphia PD and US Marshals without incident. 

During a search of Buggs’ home, detectives recovered a .40 caliber Glock 22 pistol with an extended magazine, laser pointer, and a “switch,” a device that converts a semiautomatic pistol into an automatic. 

According to Deputy Police Commissioner Frank Vanore, ballistics confirmed that weapon matched shell casings recovered at the Wednesday, March 6 shooting. 

Despite the arrests, police announced the investigation was continuing. 

“Anyone who may have aided and assisted them, we’re coming for them too,” said Vanore. 

The third suspect, Carter, was arrested on Tuesday. A spokesperson from the US Marshals Service announced his apprehension and warned the fourth suspect to turn himself in. That suspect has been identified as 17-year-old Asir Boone, and there is currently a $5,000 reward being offered for tips leading to his arrest.

Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to contact the U.S. Marshals Service at 1-866-865-TIPS (8477) or at USMarshals.gov.