Tyreese Quinerly, 39, of Philadelphia. (Credit: Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office)
The Philadelphia man wanted in connection with the shooting death of a 39-year-old homeless man in Lower Merion Township Sunday night turned himself in to Lower Merion Township Police and Montgomery County Detectives shortly before 2 p.m. Tuesday.
Tyreese Quinerley, 39, of the 2700 block of Dover Street, has been charged with first- and third-degree murder, as well as prohibited possession of a firearm and related offenses in the death of Jefferson Shackford.
Police responded to a 911 call placed by Quinerley near the intersection of City and Cardinal avenues around 11 p.m. on April 14. Arriving officers spoke with Quinerley, who said he had almost hit Shackford with his van, then stopped to help him, according to charging documents.
Quinerley was allowed to leave the scene after providing his identification, and as emergency medical personnel were preparing Shackford for transport, they found he had gunshot wounds on his side and arm, police said.
Shackford was taken to Lankenau Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
A joint investigation was launched between Lower Merion Police and the Montgomery County Detective Bureau, which revealed that Quinerley was observed by witnesses and surveillance video driving his green Chevrolet Express van erratically and speeding on City Avenue when he stopped at a redlight at the intersection with Cardinal Avenue, officials said. Quinerly then exited the vehicle and fired two shots into the vehicle, striking Shackford, according to the criminal complaint.
Several minutes later, surveillance footage showed Quinerley dragging Shackford out of the van and placing him on the sidewalk, police said.
The arrest affidavit states Quinerley knew Shackford “from the neighborhood,” adding that cellular data showed communication between the two on Saturday and noting that Quinerley referred to Shackford as “Creek” during the 911 call — a reference to Shackford’s nickname.
This article was updated Tuesday afternoon to reflect Quinerley turning himself in.
All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using public court records.
