Dylan Rodgers
Philadelphia police have arrested two men whose argument on a Tacony street last October allegedly escalated into a shooting that resulted in the wounding of a bystander as well as damage to the district office of City Councilman Bobby Henon.
The alleged combatants were Christopher Marshall, 21, of the 5700 block of Cottage St., and Dylan Rodgers, 23, of the 6700 block of Torresdale Ave.
According to Lt. Dennis Rosenbaum of Northeast Detectives, Marshall and Rodgers quarrelled outside Rodgers’ home at about 7:30 a.m. on Oct. 24. Marshall allegedly left the scene only to return a short time later with a gun. Rodgers also had a gun, Rosenbaum said.
Marshall allegedly opened fire on Rodgers and his 18-year-old brother. One of the slugs struck the teen in the left ankle, causing fractures of the joint. Also, about five bullets struck Henon’s district office at 6730 Torresdale Ave. The councilman was not in the office at the time. No staff members or patrons were injured.
After the volley of gunfire, Marshall allegedly fled the area. Police recovered about a half-dozen shell casings from the scene.
The wounded teen, who was not identified by name, initially told police that he arrived at the house to find a man selling drugs outside, so he told the suspected pusher to get lost. That’s when the argument began.
Police arrested Rodgers on Jan. 6 for carrying a gun without a license and carrying a gun in public, which is illegal in Philadelphia. He was also charged with possessing an instrument of crime.
Detectives used witness information and anonymous tips to identify Marshall as the alleged shooter. He was arrested on Jan. 22 and charged with attempted murder, two counts of aggravated assault, multiple firearms offenses and reckless endangerment.
Marshall, who has also lived on the 5500 block of Torresdale Ave. according to police, previously was arrested in August 2013 for an aggravated assault and robbery case, and again in November 2013 for a drug possession case. The earlier charges were dismissed at a preliminary hearing, while Marshall pleaded no contest to the misdemeanor drug charge and was placed on probation.
Rodgers also had an arrest record at the time of the shooting. Police locked him up for disorderly conduct just two months prior to the shooting. A judge ordered him to pay a $100 fine. After the shooting, Rodgers was arrested again for disorderly conduct on Feb. 8. That case is pending.
Marshall is imprisoned at the Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility in lieu of $200,000 bail while awaiting a March 10 preliminary hearing in the attempted murder case.
Rodgers was freed after posting 10 percent of $50,000 bail in the shooting case and again after posting 10 percent of $1,500 bail in the new disorderly conduct case. His preliminary hearing on the gun charges is scheduled for March 20. ••
Christopher Marshall
