Man Who Shot At Delco Cops Guilty Of All Charges: DA

A Delaware County man who shot at a police officer in August 2017 was found guilty by jury recently, according to the Delaware County District Attorney's Office.

Delaware County District Attorney Katayoun M. Copeland said Eric Lamont Jackson, 26, of Marcus Hook, was found guilty by a jury and convicted of all charges on the evening of Friday, Nov. 2.

Jackson's charges came after he shot at a Trainer Borough Police Officer following a pedestrian stop on Aug. 17, 2017.

Following a five-day jury trial before Delaware County Court of Common Pleas Judge Richard M. Cappelli, Jackson was found guilty of attempted homicide, aggravated assault, assault of a law enforcement officer, and person not to possess a firearm.

He faces up to 40 to 80 years in state prison including a 20-year mandatory sentence for committing assault on a law enforcement officer. Jackson's sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 3.

The investigation was conducted by Delaware County District Attorney’s Office Criminal Investigation Division (CID) Detectives Christopher A. Tankelewicz, Edmond J. Pisani, Daniel McFarland, James Reardon, David McDonald, Louis Grandizio, and Sergeant Kenneth Bellis. The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Brian R. Doherty on behalf of the Commonwealth.

On Aug. 17, 2017 at 3:30 a.m., CID Detective Christopher Tankelewicz responded to assist in the investigation of a police involved shooting that occurred in Trainer Borough. At about 2:06 a.m., Police Officers Steve DiBello and Mitch Holobowicz of the Trainer Borough Police Department stopped a pedestrian at 10th and Langley Streets while working undercover.

The officers observed two men walking west on 10th Street who appeared to be looking into several vehicles. Trainer Police had responded to numerous complaints from residents regarding thefts from vehicles before the Aug. 17 incident. Due to these complaints, Trainer Police scheduled an extra patrol to supplement the shift to help deter thefts.

DiBello and Holobowicz turned on their lights and stopped the pedestrian at 10th and Langley Streets.

While the officers were speaking with the men, Jackson said "he does not have time for this f****** s***" and began to flee on foot heading south on Langley Street.

DiBello chased after Jackson who continued to flee and ignored the officers' verbal commands to stop and show his hands. During the pursuit, Jackson turned his whole body and pulled a firearm from his waist band, aiming it directly at DiBello.

Fearing for his safety, DiBello took cover behind a parked Nissan. Jackson then fired several shots at DiBello, hitting the Nissan five times.

After Jackson fired the shots, he fled on foot, heading south on Sunset Street. Officers continued the foot pursuit, eventually losing sight of the suspect.

Delaware County CID was contacted and processed the crime scenes. In the process, a Taurus Millennium G2 9mm semi-automatic hand gun was recovered from the area directly below where Jackson had climbed over a fence in the course of his flight.

About 30 minutes after officers resumed patrol, witnesses in the area contacted police and stated an unknown male was inside the fenced property area and fled on foot.

Jackson was apprehended at 12th and Keystone Streets.

He was arrested and transported to the Trainer Police Department where he waived his Miranda Warnings and provided a recorded statement admitting that he ran from police as he was currently on state parole for a robbery conviction from February 2012. It was also determined that Jackson is not permitted to carry a firearm due to this conviction.

"In this case, the defendant fled from police, failing to follow multiple orders to stop, and then fired his weapon directly at Officer DiBello more than five times, clearly with the intent to kill him," Copeland said. "As a result of his violent and reckless actions, the defendant faces a lengthy prison sentence. I would like to commend Officers Steve DiBello and Mitch Holobowicz of the Trainer Borough Police Department who responded courageously that evening to an extremely dangerous situation, and also commend the outstanding teamwork demonstrated by Assistant District Attorney Brian Doherty and our detectives with the Criminal Investigation Division who processed the crime scene, conducted forensics on the cellphone, retrieved surveillance, and provided other investigative measures that resulted in the arrest and conviction of this dangerous repeat felon."

Image via Delaware County District Attorney's Office