Happened around 6:45 PM on Saturday at Our Town Alley, formerly Facenda Whitaker Lanes, located in block 2900 of Swede Road.
Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele said the suspect, 17-year-old Jamel Barnwell, is wanted in the murder. He is considered armed and dangerous.
Authorities say Barnwell walked into the bowling alley with two other men and an altercation ensued with the victim, 29-year-old Frank Wade from West Philadelphia.
Barnwell is charged with firing 15 shots into the bowling alley and killing Wade, who was shot while lying on the ground.
Authorities say Barnell and the men he was with all fled the bowling alley after the shooting. They left behind three cell phones, one of which belonged to Barnwell.
“We are looking for all three men involved and asking the public for help in finding the shooter, Barnwell. If you see him, do not approach him as he is considered armed and dangerous after he has fled the bowling alley. With the gun he used to do. Kill Frank Wade, “Steele said.
Four other of Wade’s family members were also injured in the shooting. They have been identified as a 31-year-old male, a 21-year-old male, a 19-year-old male and a 26-year-old male. All four victims are admitted to a regional hospital in a stable condition.
Wade’s wife said he was a loving husband and a father of two who wanted to be a chef.
“He was a good person. Frank had many hopes and dreams. He was never a violent person. He was never on the street. He wanted better,” said Syreta Stanford.
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Steele says there were about 50 to 75 people, including young children, who were in the bowling alley when the gunfire broke out. Some people took shelter in a nearby mechanical closet.
You start to hear, ‘Pop pop pop pop pop.’ You heard them go off and everyone started to panic and run backwards, ”said Harry Delmar, who was at the bowling alley with his family, including his 2-year-old niece and 9-year-old nephew.
“Getting them out safely. My first priority was the children. I didn’t care about myself. I didn’t know how close the person was to where he was, whether he would take to the street, ”said Megan Jantzi, Delmar’s fiancée.
The Jantzi family returned for their car on Sunday. They let everything in and a stranger took them home.
‘A stranger, that was so nice. But I ended up talking to him and I’m going to send him a thank you note today, ”said Jantzi’s mother, Jeanne.
Barnwell is charged with murder. He is described as standing 6’1 “and weighs about 150 pounds.
Anyone with any information is asked to call the Montgomery County Detective Bureau’s Crime Tip Line at 610-278-DOIT (3648). Or submit an anonymous SMS tip with Montco Crime Tips on the STOPit! app.
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