Jesse Bunch

Jesse Bunch

@jessebunch.bsky.social

Journalist @ Philadelphia Inquirer

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Jesse Bunch
@jessebunch.bsky.social

Federal prosecutors opened a firearms case against Eric Lewis, the man charged with killing Philadelphia police officer Shane Seiber and wounding his partner. The news came with a reaction from PPD's Bethel to DA Krasner's police misconduct allegation. www.inquirer.com/crime/eric-l...

inquirer.comFederal prosecutors open ‘separate and distinct’ case against Eric Lewis, man charged with killing Philly police officerThe federal charges would complement a separate murder case that remains active, said David Metcalf, U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
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The man charged with vehicular homicide in the fatal 2024 Gaudreau brothers collision will head to trial in January, a judge said Monday. Meanwhile, disputes over evidence led to the release of unseen photos from the Salem County crash site. www.inquirer.com/crime/sean-h...

inquirer.comTrial date set in Gaudreau brothers vehicular homicide case, as unseen photos of N.J. crash site become availableSean M. Higgins, 45, is set to take his case to trial in January, a judge said Monday.
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For more than an hour early Saturday, Philadelphia police sought a man who had just killed one of their own, Shane Seiber. Gunfire sent officers running for cover. The shooter, Eric Lewis, was arrested when he fell out of a tree. Here's a timeline: www.inquirer.com/crime/inq2/w...

inquirer.comHow the deadly West Philly police shooting unfoldedOfficer Shane Seiber died after a shooting in West Philadelphia early Saturday morning that left his partner wounded. Here's how the events unfolded.
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NEW: Anthropic's AI model submitted a false homicide tip to the Philadelphia Police Department in July, authorities say. The Silicon Valley company discovered the unintended interaction two months later and alerted police officials this week. www.inquirer.com/crime/anthro...

inquirer.comAnthropic’s artificial intelligence gave a false homicide tip to Philly police, triggering a meeting with the companyThe incident happened on July 18 but was not discovered by the Silicon Valley company until September, authorities say.
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The Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled today that the special prosecutor for SEPTA crimes is constitutional. It was another blow to DA Larry Krasner, who said the role unlawfully stripped his office's authority. w @abgutman.bsky.social www.inquirer.com/crime/septa-...

inquirer.comPa. Supreme Court says SEPTA special prosecutor is constitutional, another blow to KrasnerA unanimous Supreme Court rejected District Attorney Larry Krasner's argument that the SEPTA special prosecutor law is unconstitutional because it strips away the authority of an elected DA.
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11 small business owners in Philadelphia defrauded Pennsylvania out of nearly $1 million, prosecutors say. The money came from a federal food assistance program designed for low-income mothers and their children. www.inquirer.com/crime/philad...

inquirer.com11 Philly business owners stole funds from program for low-income women and children, prosecutors sayThe store owners defrauded a food-assistance program out of tens of thousands of dollars, prosecutors said, and in one case more than $340,000.
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Two members of Philly's Black Panther-style group were arrested in Chester this summer, months after Philly police revoked their gun licenses. The group's presence in the Delaware County city has not pleased its top public official. www.inquirer.com/crime/philad...

inquirer.comBlack Panther-style group members arrested in Chester, as mayor decries their presencePaul Birdsong, the Panthers' leader, was held for trial this month on a firearms violation. It's not group's only run-in with Chester police this year.
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U.S. Marshals arrested 41 people in the Philadelphia area who were wanted for violent felonies and receiving public housing assistance. It's part of a national effort by HUD to arrest fugitives receiving federal housing aid. www.inquirer.com/crime/hud-ho...

inquirer.com41 arrested in HUD-backed operation targeting Philly fugitives receiving public housing assistance"Operation Moving Day" was carried out by U.S. Marshals and is part of a larger federal law enforcement initiative.
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21-year-old Aiden Zeallor was driving home on I-95 last year when he was fatally struck by stray bullets from a semi-automatic rifle meant for someone in a nearby vehicle. Last week, police arrested a man and woman in connection with the killing. www.inquirer.com/crime/i95-mu...

inquirer.comMan and woman charged with murder in shooting on I-95 that killed a 21-year-old bystanderThe arrests come nearly 18 months after Aiden Zeallor was killed by stray bullets on the highway's northbound lane near Port Richmond.
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Superior Court judges reinstated murder convictions for the "Chester Trio," who recently, after more than 20 years in prison, were granted new trials for a Delco killing they say they did not commit. www.inquirer.com/crime/cheste...

inquirer.comJudges reinstate convictions for ‘Chester Trio’, who say they were wrongly accused of woman’s 1997 murderThe Pennsylvania Superior Court rejected defense lawyers' arguments that new DNA evidence warranted new trials for the men and said the guilty verdicts reached by jurors in three trials should stand.
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Md Mahfuzul Haque moved to Philadelphia to support his wife's medical career, driving for DoorDash despite being a doctor in his native Bangladesh. Police say he was shot and killed during a robbery this month and charged a 15 y/o with murder. www.inquirer.com/crime/md-mah...

inquirer.comDoctor killed in Southwest Philly was driving for DoorDash to support wife’s medical career, family saysMd Mahfuzul Haque, a doctor and Bangladesh native, moved to Philadelphia to support his wife's medical career. He was killed during a robbery this month, police say.
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The founder of a well-known Philadelphia anti-violence nonprofit has been charged with aggravated assault for attacking a woman with a boxcutter during an argument on SEPTA. The victim was placed in critical condition and required facial surgery. www.inquirer.com/crime/rosali...

inquirer.comFounder of Kensington anti-violence nonprofit arrested for knife attack on SEPTA train, authorities sayRosalind "Roz" Pichardo, founder of Operation Save Our City, was arrested for attacking a SEPTA passenger with a box cutter during an argument last week, authorities said.
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Lawmakers designed Philly's special SEPTA prosecutor role to expire about the time they thought DA Krasner would be out of office. With Krasner in a third term, the fate of the office is now uncertain. www.inquirer.com/news/pennsyl...

inquirer.comThe SEPTA special prosecutor in Philly is set to expire this year. Will state lawmakers extend it into Larry Krasner’s third term?Legislators set aside another full year of funding for the office — $1.2 million — but haven’t agreed on whether they will extend it further.
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Seven years later, family members of a beloved Delaware County teacher continue to ask: who murdered Susan Morrissey? share.inquirer.com/R3e3OS

share.inquirer.com‘Time doesn’t heal all wounds’: A beloved Delco teacher’s murder, seven years later, haunts loved ones and confounds authoritiesSusan Morrissey's sister, Missy, keeps hundreds of pages of notes and documents related to her sister’s death, making her something of an in-house historian of the family’s tragedy.
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Attorney General Dave Sunday sat down with The Inquirer last week to discuss the Pa. Supreme Court decision that gave his office unprecedented oversight over the Philly DA's post-conviction work, his stance on a recent abortion ruling, and more. www.inquirer.com/politics/att...

inquirer.comPa. Attorney General Dave Sunday talks Supreme Court’s Krasner ruling, abortion appealThe high court recently gave Sunday's office unprecedented authority over the DA's post-conviction review process. He discussed that ruling and more in an interview with The Inquirer.
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Why did Eric Franks, a firearms instructor who taught gun safety and wished for a safer neighborhood, shoot three Philadelphia police officers on Saturday? Those who knew him - a city councilman included - struggle for answers. www.inquirer.com/crime/eric-f...

inquirer.comWhy did a firearms instructor who promoted gun safety shoot three Philly cops? Those who knew him struggle for answers.Eric Franks cared about reducing crime in his Wynnefield neighborhood, those who knew him said. After he shot officers there Saturday, police returned fire and killed him.
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After the George Floyd protests, the case of Philly cop Richard Nicoletti - who pepper-sprayed three people at point blank on I-676 - was central in the effort to uphold police accountability. Now he will serve 1 year of probation, court records show. www.inquirer.com/crime/richar...

inquirer.comFormer Philly SWAT officer who pepper sprayed protesters on I-676 will serve one year of probationRichard P. Nicoletti was accused of assaulting the protesters with pepper spray. Prosecutors' attempt to hold him accountable in 2023 ended in a mistrial.
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The DOJ is investigating the Philadelphia Police Dept. over its revocation of gun owners' firearms permits. It is unclear whether the probe is tied to members of a Black Panthers-adjacent group who had their gun permits revoked earlier this year. www.inquirer.com/politics/jus...

inquirer.comThe Justice Department is investigating whether Philly police are improperly revoking gun permitsIn a letter to Mayor Cherelle L. Parker, a DOJ official said the investigation will evaluate whether police were violating the Constitution by their method of revoking gun permits.
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Fifteen people were arrested at a Pride celebration in Philadelphia's Gayborhood on Sunday, drawing criticism from the city's gay community. “Police, dressed up as if we’re going to riot, basically start steamrolling the street" one attendee said. www.inquirer.com/crime/gaybor...

inquirer.com15 arrested as police response to Gayborhood Pride festival spurs criticism from some in LGBTQ+ communityPolice Commissioner Kevn Bethel said officers had responded "to a growing number of public safety concerns."
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Kobe Artis, the man who went viral for carrying an assault-style weapon around Kensington while encouraging others to arm themselves, had his bail reduced to $350,000 in court today. It was previously $1 million. www.inquirer.com/crime/kobe-a...

inquirer.comMan who went viral for carrying assault-style weapon around Kensington has bail reduced from $1 million to $350kKobe Artis, 24, appeared in Philadelphia Municipal Court on Tuesday and said little as he waived his preliminary hearing in exchange for reduced bail.
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The leader of the Panthers, a Philadelphia-based armed Black citizens group, had his gun permit revoked by police after a confrontation with an officer in January. He’s calling the move unconstitutional. www.inquirer.com/crime/philad...

inquirer.comThe leader of the Panthers, an armed Black citizens group, had his gun permit revoked by police. He’s calling the move unconstitutional.Until recently, Paul Birdsong carried a gun during armed patrols throughout the city alongside other members of the Panthers. Now the weapon stays behind.
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Jury tampering charges in Philadelphia are a rarity. But prosecutors are accusing two men of attempting to influence the outcome of a murder trial in April after they told jurors to return a "not guilty" verdict in a courtroom hallway. New: www.inquirer.com/crime/jury-t...

inquirer.comTwo men are accused of jury tampering in a Philadelphia murder trial, a rare charge in city courtOne suspect is in custody after prosecutors accused the men of telling jurors the defendant was innocent. The jury still convicted him.
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Kobe Artis, an AR-toting man who went viral for brandishing the gun around Kensington, traveled to Philadelphia from western Pa. with a goal: to teach people about open carrying firearms. Yesterday he was arrested and charged with firearms crimes. www.inquirer.com/news/philade...

inquirer.comA man who went viral for walking around Kensington with an assault rifle-style weapon was arrested on illegal gun chargesKobe Artis, 24, is known on social media for brandishing his unique AR-style pistol around Kensington. He was arrested this week on illegal gun charges.
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The man accused of killing hockey's Gaudreau brothers in a N.J. drunken driving incident in 2024 did not have a blood-alcohol content over the legal limit, his lawyers said in a new filing accusing prosecutors of mishandling the test sample. www.inquirer.com/crime/johnny...

inquirer.comMan accused of killing hockey’s Gaudreau brothers in drunken-driving incident had blood-alcohol level below legal limit, lawyer saysLawyers for Sean M. Higgins say prosecutors failed to make a conversion in the 45-year-old's blood sample that would have put him below the 0.08 threshold that August 2024 evening.
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A teen girl stabbed her newborn baby to death with a pair of scissors in Northern Liberties over the weekend. The District Attorney's Office and homicide investigators did not agree over how the girl should be charged. www.inquirer.com/crime/teenag...

inquirer.comTeen mother charged with manslaughter in baby’s slaying in Northern LibertiesDistrict Attorney Larry Krasner said additional information is being sought in an ongoing investigation into the crime.
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Philadelphia invested around $60 million into community violence intervention programs to reduce crime. Now it’s training their outreach workers, too. www.inquirer.com/crime/philad...

inquirer.comThe city invested in community violence interrupters to reduce crime. Now it’s training them, too.Philadelphia's Office of Public Safety launched the Peacekeepers Institute this month to train outreach workers and unify the city's patchwork of grassroots antiviolence groups.
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A 34 y/o police officer on Delaware County's Drug Task Force gave a cocaine dealer confidential information in exchange for drugs, according to court documents. They met at a Ridley bar, the documents say, and later stayed 'up all night doing cocaine.' www.inquirer.com/crime/delawa...

inquirer.com‘Up all night doing cocaine’: Two Sharon Hill police officers gave confidential information to a drug dealer, one in exchange for drugs, AG saysDet. Vincent Propcopio and Officer Domenic Dellabarba betrayed their community and their fellow officers by their actions, Attorney General Dave Sunday said.
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A Philadelphia man who has been in jail for 18 years for a 2007 murder he says he didn't commit should get a new trial, a judge ruled yesterday. The case centered on a serial informant who implicated Rasheem Hall in the crime but later recanted his statements. www.inquirer.com/crime/rashee...

inquirer.com‘Jury didn’t know the whole background’: Judge orders new trial for man convicted of murder in 2007 North Philly shootingEvidence prosecutors did not provide to Rasheem Hall's legal team could have helped his case, a Common Pleas Court judge ruled Wednesday.
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After a major drug enforcement operation on Kensington's Weymouth Street, a city pilot program is connecting residents with public services and, in some cases, helping with minor car repairs, appliances, and other household needs. www.inquirer.com/crime/weymou...

inquirer.comThis Kensington block was home to a ‘tyrannical drug trade.’ The city is now helping residents with household needs so they can rebuild.Most of the services offered to residents on the 3100 block of Weymouth Street are available to Philadelphians citywide, the public safety director said. But some have gotten extra help.
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Last year a NJ woman tried to hire a hitman from Tinder to kill her Philly cop ex. Now Jaclyn Diiorio's attorney says the man - an informant for the sheriff's office - was a 'rogue', unreliable operative. He's seeking to have the case dismissed. www.inquirer.com/crime/jaclyn...

inquirer.com‘Put me in coach’: Informant in N.J. Tinder murder-for-hire case was ‘rogue’ operative motivated by money, defense attorney saysJaclyn Diiorio's lawyer says the would-be hitman is an unreliable police informant who shouldn’t be trusted, and the charges against her should be dropped.
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Could a CHOP nurse and mother’s seemingly random shooting death have been avoided? Some Tredyffrin residents think so. www.inquirer.com/crime/tredyf...

inquirer.comCould a CHOP nurse and mother’s seemingly random shooting death have been avoided? Some Tredyffrin residents think so.Megan Nieberle was shot and killed in Berwyn last month. Some believe police should have done more to get her accused killer, Steve Jahn, mental health treatment before the crime.
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Kash Patel visited Pennsylvania yesterday to tout Trump's fentanyl fight alongside Sen. McCormick. Asked how the approach to drug enforcement had changed, Patel said he put 1,000 agents from the FBI’s DC office in the field — including in Pa. www.inquirer.com/crime/dave-m...

inquirer.comKash Patel visits Pennsylvania to tout Trump’s fight against fentanylThe FBI director said collaboration between federal and Pa. officials would contribute to a "drastic decline" in the synthetic opioid.
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Four years after its debut, Philadelphia's top police oversight agency continues to face challenges from the FOP in conducting independent reviews of officer misconduct. The commission says it is making progress in other ways. www.inquirer.com/crime/philad...

inquirer.comCitizens Police Oversight Commission sees progress with ‘live audits,’ but independent authority remains elusiveSince the commission's launch in 2022, the Philadelphia Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 5 has strongly opposed giving it power to conduct independent investigations of officer misconduct.
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The FBI conducted controlled detonations of explosive materials found in a Middletown Township storage facility — as police investigate two Bucks County teens charged with trying to detonate homemade bombs outside Gracie Mansion in NYC in support of ISIS. www.inquirer.com/crime/bucks-...

inquirer.comThe FBI detonated explosives in a Bucks County storage unit while continuing to investigate two local teens charged with terrorism in N.Y.Police said the raid was part of the ongoing investigation into two teens who have been charged with trying to detonate homemade bombs outside Gracie Mansion over the weekend in support of ISIS.
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A Bucks County woman told Philadelphia police she was sexually assaulted by her ex-boyfriend on Saturday. Less than 12 hours later, the man shot her dead. Yuan Yuan Lu's family say the animal lover and foodie's life was cut tragically short. www.inquirer.com/crime/yuan-y...

inquirer.com‘She was struggling alone’: Family mourns Bucks County woman killed after reporting a sexual assaultYuan Yuan Lu was an animal lover and Philadelphia foodie, her cousin says. She died Sunday in Levittown.
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Investigators have named a suspect in the recent murders of two Philadelphia tow truck drivers. The man, Najee Williams, works for another Philly towing company, N.K.W Towing, according to police sources. www.inquirer.com/crime/police...

inquirer.comPolice searching for ‘armed and dangerous’ suspect in killings of two men in city’s towing industryNajee Williams is connected to the killing of David Garcia-Morales in December and Aaron Whitfield in January, investigators say.
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A woman who pepper-sprayed a conservative influencer on a SEPTA bus this month was charged with assault Thursday by a special transit prosecutor with the Pa. Attorney General's office. "This type of violence is senseless," AG Dave Sunday said in a statement. www.inquirer.com/crime/paulin...

inquirer.com‘Violence will not be tolerated’: Woman who pepper-sprayed conservative influencer on SEPTA bus charged with assaultPaulina Reyes, 22, is accused of assaulting Francis Scales on a Route 7 bus earlier this month.
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‘The favorite Auntie’: a woman who died after a car struck her wheelchair in Lower Merion was remembered at the sentencing for the vehicle’s driver today. www.inquirer.com/crime/hit-ru...

inquirer.com‘The favorite Auntie’: Woman who died after a car struck her wheelchair remembered at sentencing for the vehicle’s driverThe driver, Jamal McCullough, assessed his vehicle for damage before fleeing the scene in Lower Merion without helping her or calling police, prosecutors said.
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“A quick execution is too good for him." Family members read tearful impact statements in Chester County court Friday as a judge sentenced a man who tortured and killed his 12-year-old daughter to life in prison without parole. www.inquirer.com/crime/malind...

inquirer.comChester County man who abused and tortured his daughter, killing her, pleads guilty to murder and is sentenced to life in prisonProsecutors say Rendell Hoagland and his fiancé inflicted punishments on the 12-year-old that no child should ever endure.