Chester police make arrest in supermarket murder – Delco Times

Chester police announced Thursday that they had made an arrest in connection with the shooting spree at a convenience store at 1100 Morton Avenue.

Haneef Melton was taken into custody by Chester investigators and Delaware County police shortly before 10 a.m. Wednesday in the area of ​​the 1300 block of Filbert Street in Philadelphia.

Melton, 19, was wanted in connection with the July 2 murder of 27-year-old Dontae Dickerson, who was shot in the back of the head.

In mid-July, police released surveillance photos of the suspect and noticed several tattoos on his arms, particularly a distinctive “AK”-style rifle on his left forearm.

Chester Police Chief Steven Gretsky described it this way:

At around 11:20 a.m., city officers were dispatched to a shooting victim inside the store. Upon arrival, they were met by paramedics.

Officers entered the store and found the victim lying on the ground. Paramedics determined the man was dead and there was a gunshot wound to the back of his head.

Gretsky did not say whether surveillance photos released by the department on July 17 played a role in the arrest.

“I want to commend the efforts of my detective unit and the Delaware County Criminal Investigation Department investigators,” he said. “We received several calls from the public during the investigation and are very grateful for their help. Tireless police work and support from the community helped get Melton off the streets and make Chester a safer place.”

Melton was booked into the George W. Hill Correctional Facility when he was denied bail after being arraigned by District Judge Benjamin Johns, standard procedure in murder cases. The charges included first- and third-degree murder and weapons offenses.

Further details were not available so far.

Originally published: August 29, 2024 at 1:29 pm