Gun-toting DoorDash driver turns the tables on wannabe carjackers



An armed DoorDash driver turned the tables on a couple of would-be carjackers last week in a Philadelphia suburb.

The driver arrived just after 2:30 a.m. Tuesday to deliver food at the Lynnewood Gardens Apartments in the 1900 block of Humphrey Merry Way in Cheltenham Township, WCAU-TV reported, citing police.

Delivery drivers 'feel the need to arm themselves for their own personal protection, and it's incidents like this that kind of reinforce that philosophy.'

It was at that point that two people — one with a gun — confronted the DoorDash driver, police told the station.

The driver told police one of the suspects demanded his keys, after which the driver threw them to the ground, WCAU reported.

The tables turn

Police said the driver — armed with a legally purchased gun and a permit to carry — soon heard a gunshot and fired back, the station said.

The two suspects ran off, but WCAU said a K-9 found 18-year-old Divine Allen Hargrove hiding near a garage.

Image source: YouTube screenshot

According to the station's video report, Hargrove also was near a ghost gun that police said was loaded with an extended magazine containing 26 rounds of live ammunition.

Image source: YouTube screenshot

Officials said Hargrove told police he was the victim, but the DoorDash driver described the males who approached him, and Hargrove matched, WCAU said.

Hargrove was arraigned on robbery and gun charges and taken to Montgomery County Correctional Facility after failing to post bail, WTXF-TV reported. The bail amount was $100,000 cash, WCAU added.

The other suspect got away, WCAU said, and no one was hurt.

Investigators added that the resident at the address for the DoorDash delivery didn't place the order, WTXF reported.

Officials told the station similar robberies have been reported in the area.

Lt. Andrew Snyder of Cheltenham Police told WCAU that investigators believe carjacking was the suspects' motive since DoorDash drivers don't deal with cash.

Snyder added to the station that delivery drivers "feel the need to arm themselves for their own personal protection, and it's incidents like this that kind of reinforce that philosophy."

Snyder also told WCAU that police "really want to hear from anybody who may have been a victim of something similar who just didn't report it or felt that they didn't want to get involved."

Those with information should contact Cheltenham Police at 215-885-1600 or email PoliceTips@CheltenhamPA.gov, WCAU added.

DoorDash driver shoots back at would-be carjackers in Montgomery County youtu.be

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Thug attempts carjacking, winds up shot for his trouble; cops say victim is licensed to carry



A 20-year-old male attempted a carjacking in the Philadelphia area late last week and wound up shot amid an exchange of gunfire, police said.

What are the details?

Upper Darby police told WPVI-TV a white Kia sideswiped another car in the 300 block of Richfield Road around 12:30 a.m., after which the victim followed the Kia in an attempt to speak to its driver.

When both vehicles were stopped at a light at the intersection of Marshall and Hampton Roads, Upper Darby Police Superintendent Timothy Bernhardt told WPVI a rear passenger exited the Kia and "tried to carjack" the driver who was allegedly sideswiped.

Bernhardt added to the station that "there was an exchange of gunfire," one of the shots hit the alleged carjacker in the back, and the wounded male jumped back into the Kia, which sped off. WPVI said an Upper Darby officer heard the gunfire and called for backup.

"They did try to stop the car, and the car wouldn't stop, so they were pursuing the car to try to stop the vehicle," Bernhardt noted to the station.

Soon, the driver of the Kia lost control and crashed, WPVI said.

That ain't the half of it

Police told the station three individuals were inside the Kia. One was the shot carjacking suspect — a 20-year-old male from Colwyn who was taken to a hospital and was listed in stable condition, WPVI said. The second individual was the driver — who is all of 15 years old and from Darby Borough, the station said, adding that the cops caught him. The third person in the Kia got away, WPVI said.

What's more, the station said the crashed Kia had been reported stolen. Blaze News has reported on the rash of Kia and Hyundai thefts of late.

"The Kias and Hyundais are stolen all day, every day," Bernhardt noted to WPVI.

The station said the victim who was allegedly sideswiped is a 38-year-old Upper Darby man, and police said while they don't yet know if he fired the shot that hit the would-be carjacker, they say he's licensed to carry.

WPVI said Upper Darby police are working with the District Attorney's office to determine charges in the case.

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Mom, 70, used 16-inch blade hidden in walking cane to fatally stab man fighting her adult son near bar; jury calls it murder



A 70-year-old mother was found guilty of murder Thursday for using a 16-inch blade hidden in a walking cane to fatally stab a man fighting her adult son outside a Philadelphia-area bar last year.

As sheriff's deputies escorted a handcuffed Renee DiPietro through a hallway following the verdict, she was heard saying, "If it was their child, what would they do?" WPVI-TV reported.

According to WPHL-TV, DiPietro’s "child" — her son, Jason, who was involved in the June 10 fight that led to the fatal stabbing — is 29 years old.

What's the background?

WPHL, citing the Philadelphia Inquirer, said Jason called his mom for a ride home after he sucker-punched a friend of the victim — 31-year-old Michael Sides — inside an Ardmore bar for kissing his girlfriend.

Police said Sides was overheard saying he was going to “seek out” Jason for punching his friend, WPHL said.

Prosecutors said soon after, Jason tried to get into his parents' vehicle, but Sides stopped him, and police said the two started to fight, WPHL said, adding that DiPietro and her husband were inside the vehicle.

With that, police said DiPietro exited the vehicle and stabbed Sides in the chest with the murder weapon, WPHL reported, after which Sides died at a hospital.

Investigators added that DiPietro bent the vehicle's license plate to obscure it and prevent her from being identified, WPHL noted.

While DiPietro claimed she was defending her son, WPVI said video played in court showed that she, her husband, and son didn't call 911 or try to help the victim.

"This defendant injected herself and a 16-inch blade into a fistfight, and while she had the right to defend herself and her son, she did not have the right to take the victim's life," Assistant District Attorney Brianna Ringwood said, according to WPVI. "The way she behaved during the fight, and also immediately after the victim fell and was bleeding, demonstrated an indifference to the value of his life."

Anything else?

The jury spent several hours deliberating before finding DiPietro guilty of third-degree murder and possessing an instrument of crime, WPVI said.

The judge revoked DiPietro’s bail, and she will stay in custody until her sentencing, WPHL said, adding that the Inquirer reported that her sentencing will be scheduled within the next few days. WPHL noted that DiPietro faces up to 20 to 40 years in prison.

DiPietro’s attorney Louis Busico said she didn't commit murder, WPHL noted, citing the Inquirer — rather that she acted on a “fundamental human instinct” to protect her son and herself.

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Man who fatally shot two attackers, wounded a third outside Philly area bar won't face criminal charges; DA says 'self-defense played a critical role'



A man who fatally shot two attackers and wounded a third outside a Philadelphia area bar earlier this month won't face criminal charges, PhillyVoice reported.

What are the details?

Bucks County investigators said 21-year-old Liam Hughes acted in self defense after leaving Steam — a pub in Upper Southampton — with a friend around 11:30 p.m. Oct. 7 and firing shots at three men who assaulted him in the parking lot, the outlet said. Upper Southampton is about 30 minutes north of Philadelphia.

"Self-defense played a critical role," Bucks County District Attorney Matthew Weintraub said at a news conference Thursday, PhillyVoice reported. "Use of deadly force by Liam Hughes was justified as the circumstances were such that he reasonably believed deadly force was necessary to protect himself against death or serious bodily injury and because the circumstances were such that he was unable to safely retreat."

Investigators examined surveillance videos from the bar and the parking lot as well as additional evidence, Weintraub said, according to the outlet. Everyone involved in the incident had been inside the bar that night, but Hughes hadn't interacted with his attackers, the outlet added.

PhillyVoice reported that two of Hughes' attackers — Raymond Farrell, 28, and Steven Panebianco, 30 — died at the scene; prosecutors said the third, 24-year-old Michael Michell, is facing simple assault charges for throwing punches at Hughes.

Richard Bowman, 24, attempted to break up the fight and is expected to recover from a gunshot wound, the outlet said, adding that Weintraub said Hughes can't be charged for wounding Bowman because he fired the shots in self-defense. Bowman will not be charged, the outlet added.

More from PhillyVoice:

Hughes, an auto technician and military reservist from Middletown, was returning to his car when a group of men gathered nearby confronted him. After Hughes asked Michell to stop leaning on his car, Panebianco, who was intoxicated, threw a punch, and the men began to beat Hughes, striking him in the head and face, investigators said. His friend ran into the bar to seek help.

After an unsuccessful attempt to get into his car and flee, Hughes grabbed his gun, located between the driver's seat and center console, investigators said. He told his attackers that he had a firearm, but they continued. He then fired eight shots, striking Farrell four times and Panebianco twice. Bowman suffered a gunshot wound to his shoulder.

The outlet said immediately after the shooting, Hughes called 911 and told dispatchers "they jumped me; I had to," according to a recording of the call.

Anything else?

Hughes stayed at the scene until police arrived, PhillyVoice reported, citing investigators. The outlet added that Hughes was interviewed and had his blood tested — and investigators noted he didn't have any alcohol in his blood at the time of the shooting. Hughes also surrendered his phone, clothing, and weapon, PhillyVoice said, adding that Hughes had a legal firearm pit.

Hughes suffered a concussion, a bloody nose, a split lip, and bruises to his forehead and ear, the outlet reported, citing Weintraub. PhillyVoice also said Hughes has experienced post-traumatic headaches.

Here's a news report from WPVI-TV that aired soon after the shooting: