One caught, one sought in New Year’s Eve Wawa murder

LOWER CHICHESTER — One man is in custody and another is being sought for a New Year’s Eve shooting that left an 18-year-old man dead and another person critically wounded, Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer announced Wednesday.

“The suspects in this case planned to steal a half-pound of marijuana from the decedent,” Stollsteimer said in a release. “Instead, one individual is dead, a second grievously injured, and the two young suspects face a lifetime behind bars. The lives of four people and their families have been ruined forever over a half pound of pot.”

Jahmier Council, 22, of Chester, and Zymear Lamar Jones, 22, of Wilmington, are each charged with criminal homicide, murder in the first, second and third degree, attempted murder, conspiracy, robbery, and aggravated assault.

Jones was arrested in Delaware on Tuesday with the assistance of the U.S. Marshals service, but Council remains at large, according to the release.

Lower Chichester police officers were dispatched to the Wawa at 1439 Market St. in the Linwood section of the township about 2:33 p.m. Dec. 31 for reports of a shooting, according to an affidavit of probable cause written by Delaware County Criminal Investigation Division Detective Dave Tyler.

Upon arrival, Officer Ralph Conte found two men suffering from gunshot wounds.  One of the victims, 18-year-old Nasir Allen, was pronounced dead at the scene and was later found to have died from a single gunshot wound to the back, according to the affidavit. The other unidentified victim suffered gunshot wounds to his back and was transported to Crozer-Chester Medical Center for treatment.

Investigators examined surveillance videos that showed a man inside the Wawa talking on the phone and wearing gray or white sweat pants, white sneakers, and a red and black hooded jacket, according to the affidavit. He loiters in the store and does not make any purchases, then goes outside and continues to loiter, the affidavit says.

That man, later identified by witnesses as Jones, allegedly shot at the victims after they pulled into the parking lot in a red Corolla and exited the car. Further investigation revealed that Jones was out on a bench warrant on an assault charge and was ineligible to possess a firearm, the affidavit says.

Investigators spoke to a third person in the Corolla who said Allen and the other victim had traveled to the Wawa to sell a person a half-pound of marijuana for $1,000, according to the affidavit.

That witness claimed that a thin Black male with dread locks wearing a dark nylon bubble coat and dark sweat pants got into the Corolla to make the transaction. That person was later identified by witnesses as Council, the affidavit says.

Council allegedly handed over a sum less than the amount agreed to using counterfeit bills. A struggle ensued with the witness and Council attempted to exit the vehicle, according to the affidavit. The unidentified victim got out of the car, and then was when Jones ran up and shot him before fleeing the scene, according to the affidavit.

Allen and the witness also exited the vehicle after hearing the gunshot, the affidavit says. The witness reported hearing another gunshot and saw Allen collapse to the ground, according to the affidavit. Council also fled.

“This is a tragic, but all-too-common, story,” said Stollsteimer. “Even as I acknowledge the senselessness of these losses, I am committed to holding these suspects accountable for their crimes.”

Stollsteimer said the identification of the suspects and Jones’s arrest was the result of close cooperation among numerous law enforcement agencies. He thanked the Lower Chichester Police Department and officers William Cairns and Chris Houpt in particular, as well as CID detectives Tyler and Tim Deery, and CID Analyst Maria Cerino. Stollsteimer also thanked Trooper Matt Pauly of the Pennsylvania State Police Fugitive Task Force and the U.S. Marshals Service, particularly Chester Police Officer Frank Myers, who serves as a member of the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force.

Jones is awaiting extradition from Delaware and will be remanded to the county jail in Concord without bail upon his return to Pennsylvania, the release says. A preliminary hearing date will be set after his return. Anyone with information on Council’s whereabouts is urged to call Tyler at 610-633-8121.