Ricky G. Vance, 52, of Philadelphia.
Investigators from the Lansdale Borough Police Department have made an arrest in connection with the Nov. 28, 2020 shooting death of 30-year-old Ebony Sequita Pack.
Ricky G. Vance, 52, of Philadelphia, was arraigned at 9:30 a.m. on Friday on charges of first-degree murder, third-degree murder, possession of a prohibited firearm and related conspiracy offenses in connection with the incident.
Magisterial District Judge Ed Levine ordered Vance remanded to the Montgomery County Correctional Facility without bail. During the arraignment, when Vance was asked if he had any questions, he stated “This is crazy, man.”
The charges stem from a shooting that occurred in Lansdale Borough the Saturday after Thanksgiving.
Police were dispatched to the intersection of East Hancock Street and Church Road for a report of a vehicle accident with shots fired at 9:59 p.m. on Nov. 28. Upon arrival, police located a Nissan sedan — driven by Pack — which was stopped on a curb at the intersection. Police said the vehicle sustained numerous bullet-strikes to the driver’s side door.
Pack sustained multiple gunshot wounds during the incident, including two gunshot wounds to the chest and one to the leg, according to a source with knowledge of the investigation. Pack was transported from the scene via ambulance to Abington-Lansdale Hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.
Following the shooting, a joint investigation was launched by the Lansdale Borough Police Department and the Montgomery County Detective Bureau. Investigators pulled surveillance footage from the nearby North Penn School District Educational Services Building, which showed that as the victim’s vehicle stopped at the intersection, a second vehicle pulled along-side her vehicle and then quickly drove away, according to the criminal complaint.
The victim’s vehicle then slowly rolled through the intersection until it crashed into a light pole, the report states. A total of 10 fired 9mm casings were found at the scene, according to the complaint.
Investigators learned that the victim would travel the same route every evening from her residence in Feasterville to her girlfriend’s house in Lansdale via the Pennsylvania Turnpike. On the evening of the shooting, Pack went through the Bensalem Plaza at 9:27 p.m. and exited the Fort Washington Plaza at 9:42 p.m. Investigators said that at both points, her vehicle was followed by a dark-colored Cadillac with counterfeit paper registration tags — the same vehicle captured on surveillance at the scene of the shooting — and they later determined that the vehicle was owned by Vance, according to the report.
Testing on the vehicle showed particles indicative of gunshot residue on the passenger side of the Cadillac, which was consistent with the video of the shooting, the report states.
“This arrest is the result of excellent detective work, but we are not finished yet. We don’t believe this defendant acted alone, and the investigation is ongoing,” said Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele. “The $10,000 reward is still available for anyone who comes forward to detectives with information that leads to the arrest and conviction of individuals involved in Ebony Pack’s death.”
In the wake of the shooting, investigators spoke with the victim’s girlfriend, who stated that she began dating the victim in July 2020 and broke up with her ex-boyfriend at the same time, the report states. The girlfriend said her ex-boyfriend referred to the victim as “that dyke,” and was aware of the type of vehicle that the victim drove, according to the report.
The girlfriend told investigators that since she ended her relationship with her ex-boyfriend, he became abusive and harassing towards her, the report states. At one point, the girlfriend recalled hearing her ex-boyfriend say either “I’m going to fix her” or “I have something for her” in relation to victim, however the girlfriend did not believe that it was a direct threat toward Pack, according to the report.
Ultimately, the girlfriend secured a protection from abuse order against the ex-boyfriend, investigators said.
Investigators said that on the evening of the shooting, cellphone tracing showed that Vance, the ex-boyfriend and a third man travelled from different directions to an area of East Mount Airy Philadelphia just after 7:50 p.m. The location was determined to be signification due to it being in the area of a residence of the ex-boyfriend’s current girlfriend, according to the report.
The names of the ex-boyfriend and third man are being withheld by North Penn Now, as no charges have been filed against either of the men.
The case against Vance will be prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Brianna Ringwood and Bridget Gallagher. A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for 2:45 p.m. on May 5 in front of Judge Levine.
Anyone with information regarding this homicide is asked to contact the Montgomery County Detectives’ Tip Line at 610-278-DOIT (3648) or Lansdale Borough Police at 215-368-1801.
See also:
Police Renew Calls For Public Assistance In Lansdale Shooting Incident, Reward Of $10,000 Available
Reward Offered For Info Leading To Arrest In Shooting Death Of Ebony Pack In Lansdale
Investigators Provide Update To Fatal Shooting In Lansdale, Renew Calls For Public Assistance
Lansdale Police Chief Addresses Public Concerns Following Weekend Shooting
Lansdale Shooting Victim Identified, Homicide Investigation Launched
Report: Shots Fired Into Vehicle, At Least One Wounded In Lansdale
