Delco Man Gets Prison Time For Shooting At Cop

DELAWARE COUNTY, PA — A Delaware County man was handed down a 40- to 80-year prison sentence for shooting at a local police officer during a traffic stop in 2017, authorities said.

Delaware County District Attorney Katayoun M. Copeland announced today that Eric Lamont Jackson, 28, of Marcus Hook, was sentenced to 40 to 80 years in state prison for shooting at a Trainer Borough police officer following a pedestrian stop on August 17, 2017.

Jackson, 28, was sentenced after having been convicted by a jury on Nov. 2, 2018, of attempted homicide, aggravated assault, assault of a law enforcement officer, and person not to possess a firearm.

Jackson faced a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years' incarceration under “Second Strike” law, due to his prior conviction for armed robbery.

The investigation into the shooting was conducted by the 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.

At 3:30 a.m. on Aug. 17, 2017, Tankelewicz responded to assist in the investigation of a police involved shooting that occurred in Trainer Borough.

At approximately 2:06 a.m., Officers Steve DiBello and Mitch Holobowicz of Trainer Borough Police stopped a person at 10th and Langley Streets while working undercover.

They saw two men, one of whom was Jackson, who appeared to be looking into several vehicles. In preceding months Trainer Police responded to numerous complaints from residents about thefts from vehicles. As a result of these complaints, the Trainer Police scheduled an extra patrol to supplement the shift to help deter thefts.

After see that, DiBello and Holobowicz activated their lights and stopped the men.

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

DiBello chased after Jackson who continued to flee and ignore the officer’s verbal commands to stop and show his hands.

During the chase, Jackson turned around, pulled a firearm from his waist band, and aimed it at DiBello.

DiBello took cover behind a parked vehicle and Jackson fired multiple shots in DiBello’s direction, hitting a nearby vehicle five times.

After Jackson fired the shots, DiBello saw Jackson flee on foot, heading south on Sunset Street.

Officers continued the foot pursuit, eventually losing sight of the Jackson.

Delaware County CID was contacted and processed the crime scenes. Detectives located a Taurus Millennium G2 9mm semi-automatic handgun from the area directly below where Jackson had climbed over a fence in the course of his flight.

About 30 minutes after officers resumed their 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.