NEast Links: Crime, politics and the church sex abuse scandal

NEast Links: Bringing you additional Northeast news

Police critically wounded the man who tried to rob the Pantry 1 Food Mart and the 7-Eleven early Thursday along the 5300-block of Harbison Avenue. An officer fired when the suspect allegedly pointed a gun [CBS3].

Also in the 15th District, police are looking for two men involved in a shooting at Leiper and Foulkrod streets. A 53-year-old man was shot in the hand and hip early Wednesday, suffering non-life-threatening injuries [Action News].

A woman suffered severe burns late Wednesday after a fire broke out on the 1400-block of Wellington Street. The fire was under control in about 20 minutes, but the woman was treated for second-degree burns at Einstein Medical Center [CBS3].

Edward Avery, a former Archdiocese of Philadelphia priest, has pleaded guilty to charges of sexually abusing an altar boy. Avery was among the defendants who was set for trial next week in a series of child sexual abuse allegations involving unnamed students from St. Jerome School in Holme Circle [Inquirer].

Schools were the subject at Tuesday’s Northwood Civic Association meeting. Members got updates on H.R. Edmunds’ conversion to a charter, Northwood Charter Academy’s new building and the Bridge School construction [Frankford Gazette].

Pa. Rep. Tony Payton is off the primary ballot for the 179th District. The Democrat withdrew following a ballot challenge that revealed he did not have enough valid signatures on his petition [Daily News].