Two arrested in connection with West Oak Lane homicide

Two men have been arrested in connection to a fatal shooting that occurred two weeks ago in West Oak Lane.

 

 

Police announced Tuesday afternoon that Qurian Sullivan, 22, and Onzie Tate, 20, both of West Philadelphia, are being charged with murder and related offenses in connection with the incident that occurred on the 6900 block of Stenton Ave. in May.

Just before 9:30 p.m. on May 21, officers responded to a report of a shooting. There, they observed the victim suffering from a gunshot wound to his chest.

The victim, subsequently identified as Markquine Pickett, 19, from the 5800 block of Master St., was transported by police to Albert Einstein Medical Center Hospital and pronounced dead shortly thereafter.

Scene misidentified

Although initial reports indicated that the shooting took place outside a Rita’s Water Ice location, police were adamant that the shooting originated at a nearby residence.

The wounded Pickett ran from the shooting location — police familiar with the investigation said he was there to rob a drug house on the block — and collapsed at the corner of Stenton Ave. and Haines St. in front of Rita’s Water Ice.

Sullivan, of the 3900 block of Fairmount Ave., was arrested on May 30 and charged with murder and related offenses. With a record that includes drug and robbery charges, Sullivan received three years of probation in 2009 on charges of criminal conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute.

Tate, of the 5100 block of Parkside Ave., was arrested a day later and also charged with murder and related offenses.

Both have preliminary hearings scheduled for June 19.