http://www.apbnews.com/newscenter/breakingnews/2000/05/11/jeans0511_01.html
Three Pairs of Pants Prove Bulletproof
Overdressed Bystander Escapes Injury in Shooting
May 11, 2000
By Rick Sarlat
PHILADELPHIA (APBnews.com) -- A 53-year-old bystander at a shooting escaped serious injury when the three pairs of pants he was wearing stopped a stray bullet, police said today.
The incident, which left a 22-year-old man seriously injured, began around 10:50 a.m. Wednesday. Vicky Perkins, 18, of North Philadelphia, confronted her ex-boyfriend Cephus East, 22, of Whitemarsh, with a knife inside a corner store, said Capt. Tom Nestel of the Northwest Detectives Division.
Nestel said the argument eventually spilled onto the street, and Perkins' 22-year-old brother, Suliman Perkins, who was waiting outside, attacked East.
While on patrol, Officer Carmen Dixon witnessed the two men fighting, Nestel said.
"She sees an argument between the two men, and as she exits her car and goes over to break up the disturbance, [Suliman Perkins] pulls out a gun and shoots [East] twice in the chest and once in the groin," Nestel said.
Bullet recovered from inside pocket
Perkins and her brother fled the scene on foot, and as Dixon chased them, Suliman Perkins turned and fired once, missing her but striking Willie Marbury, who was waiting for a bus about a block away from the gunfire.
"He was wearing three pairs of pants and because of the distance the bullet didn't penetrate all the pairs of pants," Nestel said.
The bullet was recovered from one of Marbury's pockets, he said.
Dixon and another officer apprehended the Perkinses in a nearby apartment, police said. They were charged with attempted murder, aggravated assault and weapons offenses.
Victim in stable condition
East was admitted to Albert Einstein Medical Center in critical condition Wednesday. He was upgraded to stable condition this afternoon, officials said.
Police said they did not care to know why Marbury was wearing three pairs of pants.
"We don't ask those types of questions," Nestel said. "Sometimes the answers frighten us."
Three Pairs of Pants Prove Bulletproof
Overdressed Bystander Escapes Injury in Shooting
May 11, 2000
By Rick Sarlat
PHILADELPHIA (APBnews.com) -- A 53-year-old bystander at a shooting escaped serious injury when the three pairs of pants he was wearing stopped a stray bullet, police said today.
The incident, which left a 22-year-old man seriously injured, began around 10:50 a.m. Wednesday. Vicky Perkins, 18, of North Philadelphia, confronted her ex-boyfriend Cephus East, 22, of Whitemarsh, with a knife inside a corner store, said Capt. Tom Nestel of the Northwest Detectives Division.
Nestel said the argument eventually spilled onto the street, and Perkins' 22-year-old brother, Suliman Perkins, who was waiting outside, attacked East.
While on patrol, Officer Carmen Dixon witnessed the two men fighting, Nestel said.
"She sees an argument between the two men, and as she exits her car and goes over to break up the disturbance, [Suliman Perkins] pulls out a gun and shoots [East] twice in the chest and once in the groin," Nestel said.
Bullet recovered from inside pocket
Perkins and her brother fled the scene on foot, and as Dixon chased them, Suliman Perkins turned and fired once, missing her but striking Willie Marbury, who was waiting for a bus about a block away from the gunfire.
"He was wearing three pairs of pants and because of the distance the bullet didn't penetrate all the pairs of pants," Nestel said.
The bullet was recovered from one of Marbury's pockets, he said.
Dixon and another officer apprehended the Perkinses in a nearby apartment, police said. They were charged with attempted murder, aggravated assault and weapons offenses.
Victim in stable condition
East was admitted to Albert Einstein Medical Center in critical condition Wednesday. He was upgraded to stable condition this afternoon, officials said.
Police said they did not care to know why Marbury was wearing three pairs of pants.
"We don't ask those types of questions," Nestel said. "Sometimes the answers frighten us."