Jamel Barnwell, 17, of Upper Darby.
A warrant has been issued, and the police and Montgomery County District Attorney are asking the help of the public in finding Jamel Barnwell, 17, who is wanted for First-Degree Murder and related charges in the Our Town Bowling Alley shooting in East Norriton Saturday night.
Barnwell is to be considered armed and dangerous. If he is spotted, the public should call 911 and not approach the alleged suspect.
Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin R. Steele announced the filing of charges on Sunday against Barnwell, of Upper Darby, related to the shooting that occurred inside Our Town Bowling Alley Saturday night. In total, one victim died on scene and four others were wounded.
The deceased victim was later identified as Frank Wade, 29, of Philadelphia.
According to police reports, on Feb. 20 at approximately 6:43 p.m., East Norriton Police responded to Our Town Bowling Alley at 2912 Swede St. for multiple 911 calls reporting shots fired inside the business.
Upon arrival, East Norriton officers reported that they located one of the victims, Wade, deceased in the bowling alley entrance area, as well as four other victims who had also been shot including Yahnirr
All five victims are related and were at the bowling alley together, according to police. At the scene, detectives recovered more than a dozen 45-caliber cartridge casings, as well as five “projectiles,” with one in the ceiling and four in the floor.
Kate Delano, Director of County Communications for the District Attorney’s Office, said that teams immediately sprang into action.
“Montgomery County Detectives and East Norriton Police launched a joint homicide investigation,” she said in a Sunday press release. “Through video surveillance and witness interviews, the investigation found that three men, one of whom was identified as Barnwell, entered the bowling alley at approximately 6:39 p.m.”
Only minutes after entering, a fight broke out, reports said.
“At 6:42 p.m., a physical altercation involving the victims and the three suspects ensued,” Delano said. “Barnwell pulled a firearm with an extended magazine from inside his jacket and began shooting.”
Following the incident, all three of the alleged suspects fled the bowling alley, police reported. However, the suspect allegedly left behind three cell phones, one of which belonged to Barnwell, said police.
Steele said that this act included an extra level of illegal activity, as the suspect should not have had a gun according to the law.
“This shooting that left one man dead, and another four injured, is another act of violence by someone who is not allowed to own or possess a gun,” said Steele. “We are searching for all three men involved and are asking for the public’s help in finding the shooter, Barnwell.”
Steele warned members of the public not to make contact with the suspect.
“If you see him, do not approach him, as he is considered armed and dangerous, having fled the bowling alley with the gun he used to kill Frank Wade,” Steele said. “Call 9-1-1 immediately.”
Delano said that an autopsy showed that Wade’s cause of death was multiple gunshot wounds, declaring the death officially as a homicide, by the Montgomery County Coroner’s Office.
The warrant, which was issued Sunday for Barnwell, included charges of First-Degree Murder, Third-Degree Murder, Attempted Murder, Aggravated Assault, Reckless Endangerment, Possessing an Instrument of Crime and related charges. Barnwell is described as a black male, 6-feet, 1-inch tall, and weighs approximately 150 pounds.
If anyone has information on Barnwell’s whereabouts or the other two men involved — not currently named by police — they are asked to call the Montgomery County Detective Bureau’s Crime Tip Line at 610-278-DOIT (3648), or submit an anonymous text tip using Montco Crime Tips via the STOPit! Smartphone app.
See also:
Police Confirm 1 Dead Following Shooting At Our Town Bowling Alley In East Norriton
Lansdale Police Arrest Juvenile Male Following Physical Assault With Appeared To Be A Firearm
Montgomery County Democratic Headquarters Struck By Gunfire On Inauguration Day
Reward Offered For Info Leading To Arrest In Shooting Death Of Ebony Pack In Lansdale
Teen Charged in Shooting Death of Norristown Woman
