A suspect released on a home ankle monitor after an arrest earlier this year for allegedly shooting at a man in a park, has been charged in a second Upper Darby shooting.
Wafiq Timmons, 19, of Philadelphia, was arrested Friday with assistance from Philadelphia police in a shooting the night before in the area of 69th and Ludlow streets.
According to police, in the latest incident just before 6 p.m. Thursday, a fight involving four males escalated when Timmons produced a firearm and fired a single shot, striking another male in the lower back.
This time he was jailed.
The charges include felonies aggravated assault – attempts to cause SBI or causes injury with extremeindifference; aggravated assault – attempts to cause or causes BI with deadly weapon; possession of firearm prohibited; and firearms not to be carried W/O license.
Timmons had been on house arrest with an ankle monitor following his arrest in March in a shooting at the 2nd Ward Playground in Upper Darby, in which he fired at another male while children and families were present, police said.
Wafiq Timmons, (COURTESY PHOTO)
Upper Darby Police Superintendent Timothy Bernhardt was outraged that Timmons was released following the playground shooting.
“Despite our detectives explaining the seriousness of the case, Judge … released Mr. Timmons ROR (release own recognizance) with just an ankle monitor. That decision ignored the danger he posed and unfortunately, it showed,” Bernhardt said. “On May 15th, Mr. Timmons returned to Upper Darby and committed another shooting. This time, someone was injured. Thankfully, the victim is expected to survive.”
Timmons was arraigned Friday before District Judge Elizabeth S. Gallard, who set bail at 10 percent of $350,000 which Timmons was unable to post and so taken to Delaware County prison.
He is scheduled for a June 2 preliminary hearing before District Judge Keith Williams on the latest charges.
Bernhardt said incarceration is the correct action to take when an individual poses a risk to the community.
“Let me be clear: Bail shouldn’t be punishment, but it must reflect the risk someone poses to the community,” Bernhardt said. “When detectives ask for high bail, it’s because the facts support it. We expect more arrests in this case and will hold everyone involved responsible.”
Timmons waived a preliminary hearing on May 2 in the charges from the March park shooting.
Most of the charges — including five felonies — were withdrawn by the Delaware County District Attorney’s Office, according to the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania Web Portal.
The only charges that were waived to higher court were recklessly endangering another person and possession of a firearm prohibited, both misdemeanors.
The Daily Times has withheld the name of the district judge until the judge replies in some form to a request for comment.