Chester man accused of shooting, chase turns himself in to police

MEDIA — A Chester man wanted for a shooting and chase earlier this month that traveled into Philadelphia turned himself in to Pennsylvania State Police Wednesday.

Zion Blyden, 22, was arraigned by video before Magisterial District Judge Robert J. Radano on 11 counts including attempted homicide, simple and aggravated assault, harassment, reckless driving and attempted reckless endangerment.

According to a release from State Trooper and Community Affairs Officer Jessica L. Tobin, one of the two victims notified state police at about 8:39 p.m. Sept. 12 that Blyden was shooting at her vehicle in the area of Highland Avenue on Interstate 95 Northbound in Chester.

Blyden allegedly continued to pursue the victim in his 2006 Mercury Mountaineer on I-95 until Exit 17 for Broad Street in Philadelphia. He once again shot at the victim’s vehicle, according to the release, this time hitting the front passenger in the right chest and neck.

The victims continued northbound and eventually made it to the Ikea on Columbus Boulevard, where police and EMS were contacted, according to the release. Blyden also allegedly arrived at the scene, but fled after discovering that he had shot the passenger.

State police have not identified either victim or their relationship to Blyden, except to say the person shot is a 20-year-old male who continues to recover from his wounds.

Family members and defense attorney James Peters accompanied Blyden to the PSP barracks in Media Wednesday. Peters said he was contacted by Blyden’s mother to represent him and that from what he knows of Blyden so far, the charges are “completely anomalous.”

“This gentleman has never had a criminal history before, he’s completely clean, he’s 22 years old, never been in trouble before, not a juvenile (adjudication), nothing,” said Peters. “We need to see what the evidence is against him, we don’t know what it is yet, and we’ll go from there.”

Peters said his client works as a car mechanic and has an apartment in Chester, but grew up in Philadelphia and is not a “rough character.”

“He’s just a regular guy,” said Peters. “I spent quite a bit of time on Friday talking to him and I can’t believe he’s involved in this.”

Blyden was transported to the county jail in Concord following arraignment in lieu of $750,000 cash bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Oct. 12 before Magisterial District Judge Dawn L. Vann.