Victims Of 'Execution' Killings Left Bar With Their Killers: Police

PHILADELPHIA — Police in Philadelphia said the man and woman who died in "execution style" killings near a historic mansion in February were with their alleged attackers before their deaths.

Charged are Dale Johnson, 56, and Lamar Young, 52.

They are accused of shooting and killing Thurston Cooper, 49, and Krystina Chambers, 38, the evening of Feb. 29 on the 3800 block of Mount Pleasant Drive, near the Mount Pleasant Mansion, police said.

According to police, all four were at Tellups Tavern on the 1300 block of West Olney that same night before the killings.

They had an interaction in the bar. While it's unclear what the interaction was, police said it may have been a conflict that was thought to be resolved in the bar.

The group left the bar together without coercion at about 9:40 p.m., police said. Authorities believe Johnson and Young offered Cooper and Chambers a ride, but took them to the park and killed them.

They got into Johnson's Kia Sportage, which was tracked to the 3800 block of Mount Pleasant Drive about 20 minutes later, police said.

Authorities said Johnson and Young may have told Cooper and Chambers that they were going to a different location, but took them to the park instead.

The 911 call for Cooper and Chambers came in at about 10:58 p.m.

Authorities said it appears as though Cooper and Chambers were asked to step out of Johnson's vehicle, then were immediately executed.

Johnson was taken into custody when police stopped her Kia, and Young turned himself into police after his photo was circulated by authorities.

The two are charged with crimes including murder, criminal conspiracy, firearms violations, possession of an instrument of crime, and related offenses.