DA Krasner Announces Charges Against Kensington Suspects for Attempted Murder & Related Crimes, Applauds Residents for Their Assistance
CONTACT:
Dustin Slaughter, 215–686–8713, Dustin.Slaughter@phila.gov
PHILADELPHIA (June 7, 2021) — District Attorney Larry Krasner today announced charges against Joseph Scott (DOB 12/19/1984) and Devon McAndrews (DOB 6/2/1996) for their alleged involvement in an apparent ambush of an individual who was beaten, stabbed, and shot outside of a Kensington convenience store on May 25, 2021 on the 2500 block of Frankford Avenue. DA Krasner also credited input from community members which led to the arrests of Scott and McAndrews late last week by officers in the 26th Police District.
Scott is charged with Attempted Murder (F1), Aggravated Assault (F1), Conspiracy, Recklessly Endangering Another Person (M2), illegal firearm possession, and related crimes for his role in the assault. He is being held on $1.5 million bail after the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office requested that he be held in custody while awaiting trial. McAndrews is charged with Aggravated Assault (F1), Conspiracy, Recklessly Endangering Another Person (M2), and related crimes in connection to the same incident. The victim suffered severe lung damage as a result of the stabbing, in addition to a graze wound from a firearm discharge, and has since been released from the hospital but is expected to make a difficult recovery.
Scott and McAndrews were known to residents as the source of a series of ever-escalating incidents that started with automobile and catalytic converter thefts — for which Scott was arrested and charged in October of 2020. Through a series of virtual community forums, residents informed members of the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office, Philadelphia Police Department, and elected officials, of the problems Scott and McAndrews were posing to the neighborhood. Numerous videos of Scott’s alleged activities were also provided to authorities.
Arresting officers also allege that when confronted in his car by police with McAndrews in the passenger-side seat and a child in the rear seat, Scott produced a firearm and threatened officers with it, although police were able to take Scott into custody without further incident after he complied with officers commands to drop the weapon.
“I applaud residents of Kensington for their grassroots support of public safety,” said DA Krasner. “I’m also grateful to all of the inter-agency stakeholders who worked with community members to bring Mr. Scott and Ms. McAndrews to justice. These arrests underscore the importance of community input in improving public safety.”
Scott and McAndrews have a preliminary hearing scheduled for June 25.
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The Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office is the largest prosecutor’s office in Pennsylvania, and one of the largest in the nation. It serves the more than 1.5 million residents of the City and County of Philadelphia, employing 600 lawyers, detectives, and support staff. The District Attorney’s Office is responsible for the prosecution of approximately 40,000 criminal cases annually.
