We often get asked about the status of many of the criminal cases we have reported. The following post is an update of some notable crime stories that have appeared in West Philly Local. There are likely some we have overlooked. If there is one that you are particularly concerned about, leave a comment and we will follow up. All of the courtrooms mentioned are in the Criminal Justice Center, 13th and Filbert.

• Jerome Brooks

Brooks has been charged with murder and related offenses after he allegedly ran down 52-year-old Deanna Teal in early December on Chester Avenue near 49th Street. Teal was pronounced dead at the scene. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Feb. 22 in courtroom 306.

• Armen “Gooch” Terzian

Terzian, co-owner of Cafe Clave on the 4300 block of Locust Street, faces charges of ethnic intimidation, possession of an instrument of crime, terroristic threats and simple assault following an incident outside the cafe in November. The most serious charge, aggravated assault, has been withdrawn. His trial is scheduled to begin today, Jan. 4, at 10 a.m. in room 706.

• Torin Myer

Myer was arrested last May and charged with robbing Green Line Cafe locations on Locust Street and Lancaster Avenue (twice) and the Chipotle Restaurant on the 3900 block of Walnut Street. Myer, 23, pleaded guilty to several charges and on December 20 was sentenced to two-and-a-half to five years in prison and mandatory drug and alcohol treatment.

• Wesley Crawford and Raphael Zappala

Crawford and Zappala were arrested last January and accused of taking part in running a large LSD ring out of a home on the 4800 block of Florence St.

Crawford faced 15 charges related to the operation. In September he pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to manufacture and deliver narcotics, a count of conspiracy to manufacture and a count of criminal use of a communication facility. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 29 in courtroom 705.

Zappala, who faced 12 charges, pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to manufacture or deliver and was sentenced on Sept. 25 to one year probation.

• James Lippert and David Eisenstadt

Lippert and Eisenstadt, both 50, were arrested in late June in connection with an alleged marijuana growing operation run out of a home at 1123 S. 48th Street in June. Witnesses at the time said they saw police remove several garbage bags and planting pots from the home.

Lippert was charged with possession with intent to manufacture and deliver, possession of marijuana and two related charges. His next court appearance is a pre-trial conference scheduled for Jan. 17 in courtroom 705.

Eisenstadt faced a similar list of charges. The case against him was dismissed in November for lack of evidence.

• Amin Gibbs

Gibbs was arrested on Dec. 4 and charged with the Nov. 17 murder of 22-year-old student Zykia Sanders. Sanders was shot outside of the West Park Apartments near 45th and Market. Gibbs is scheduled to appear Feb. 19 in courtroom 306 at 9 a.m. for a preliminary hearing.

• Hakim Benson

Benson was arrested Oct. 5 and charged with a dozen gunpoint robberies in West and Southwest Philadelphia, including the Sept. 28 armed robbery of the CVS at 4849 Market St. Benson, 20, pleaded guilty on Dec. 19 to robbery and gun charges. He is scheduled to be sentenced on March 22 at 8 a.m. in courtroom 705.

– Mike Lyons

The District Attorney’s Office today withdrew attempted murder and related charges against 16-year-old Eric Early, who was arrested with his brother Matthew in connection with the Dec. 12 shooting at the 46th Street El, which was caught on surveillance video.

Eric Early, who turned 17 a few days after the shooting, was charged as an adult. The shooting made national headlines. Surveillance video from the train and at the station shows both brothers in an argument with an older man in a Chicago Bulls hat. The argument was reportedly over the Bulls-76ers game earlier that night at the Wells Fargo Center. Police say surveillance video shows that, after exiting the train, Matthew Early turned and fired one shot from a handgun, striking the man in the stomach and another man in the leg.

Matthew Early is charged with attempted murder and gun-related charges. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Jan. 17 at 9:30 a.m. in courtroom 1006. He is currently being held in lieu of $2.5 million bail. Matthew turned 18 two days before the shooting.

– Mike Lyons

Police last night apprehended the teen suspected of shooting two men at the 46th Street El stop earlier this month.

Matthew Early, 18, was taken into custody in a friend’s home on the 1700 block of N. 27th St. at about 6 p.m. on Friday, police said. Police apprehended his brother, 17-year-old Eric Early, on Dec. 16. Both brothers live on the 100 block of S. 49th St.

Both teens were on the run after they were named as suspects shown in surveillance video firing a single shot into a train car on Dec. 12 following an argument with a Chicago Bulls fan returning home from the Bulls-Sixers game earlier that night. One man was shot through the stomach and a man standing behind him was hit with the same bullet in the leg.

Police say Matthew Early was the shooter. Both brothers have been charged with attempted murder and aggravated assault. Eric Early has been charged as an adult, police said.

 

One man was killed and two others are in critical condition after a shooting at an apartment building at 4618 Chester Ave. last night.

Police say a 20-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene with a gunshot wound to the head. Two other men were taken to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and are in critical condition with gunshot wounds to the face and neck.

Police say they are looking for three suspects who were dressed in black and apparently forced their way into the four-story building. Police say the shootings happened in a third-floor apartment. The owner of the building would not comment on who lived in the apartment.

Police said the suspects fled eastbound on Chester Avenue in a dark vehicle.

We will pass along more details as they become available.

Anyone with information can contact Philadelphia Police at 215-686-TIPS (8477), text a tip to PPD TIP (773847) or through phillypolice.com.

Beginning this week, there will be an increased number of police and security officers on and near the University of Pennsylvania campus, according to an announcement by Provost Vincent Price and Executive Vice President Craig Carnaroli. There have been a few armed robberies on and near campus in the past week, including a daytime gunpoint robbery at a food cart at 38th and Walnut on Tuesday.

“Numerous additional overtime shifts have been added and other patrols have been redeployed to higher risk areas to ensure a visible police presence that we hope will deter any criminal activity. In addition, undercover police will be monitoring any suspicious activity around campus.  We have also increased CCTV Virtual Video Patrols through our 120 Pan, Tilt, Zoom CCTV cameras on- and off-campus,” message reads.

Police are investigating the origins of a package received at West Philadelphia High School this morning that contained racist materials and a news article about the killings at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn.

A police spokeswoman would only say that the material in the package, which was delivered just before 9 a.m., was “not so good.” She did confirm that the materials were racist in nature. Philly.com is reporting that the package also contained a note that read “you are next.”

We’ll update with details when we get them.