Presumably, Mr. Ali. (at the ATM in question)
Posted on 10/06/2007 6:12:03 AM PDT by DCBryan1
CONFESSION IN SLAYINGS
Warrant for car leads to suspect
By DAVID GAMBACORTA, DANA DiFILIPPO & JENNA OSKOWITZ
gambacd@phillynews.com 215-854-5994
A fugitive who previously served federal prison time for bank robberies confessed last night to slaying two retired Philly cops.
The stunning development came just a day after William Widmaier and Joseph Alullo - lifelong friends who found a second career as armored truck guards - were gunned down and robbed as they serviced an ATM in Northeast Philadelphia.
The alleged confessed killer, according to police sources, has been identified as Mustafa Ali.
He was arrested on an outstanding warrant from Middletown Township, Bucks County, at about 4 p.m. outside an apartment complex on Woodhaven Road near Covert Road, said Homicide Capt. Michael Costello.
Investigators also found a four-door black Acura TL in the apartment complex that matched the getaway car that was used by the gunman in Thursday's double slaying. The car had been covered by a dark tarp, Costello said.
The Acura had been purchased some time ago in Middletown Township, but the buyer paid with a bad check, which led police to issue the warrant on charges of felony theft, police sources said.
When investigators captured Ali, he was heading toward a white Pontiac that he recently rented.
Homicide investigators said last night that Ali - who had not yet been officially charged with murder - confessed after a lengthy interrogation.
He hadn't yet told them where he stashed the murder weapon, they said.
Earlier in the evening, sources noted that the alleged killer had served federal prison time outside the area for committing bank robberies.
Investigators are working closely with law enforcement officials from other jurisdictions to piece together the man's background.
Earlier in the day, while detectives continued their around-the-clock efforts to solve the case, citizens sickened by the city's rampant violence expressed their outrage and sympathy through a shrine, donations and crime-solving tips.
Flowers, candles and handwritten notes crowded the automated teller machine where Alullo, 54, and Widmaier, 65, were killed Thursday morning.
The pair were ambushed shortly after 8 a.m. as they made a routine stop at the Wachovia Bank at Bustleton and Bleigh avenues.
The gunman had lain in wait in a parking lot nearby, shooting the guards repeatedly and firing at a third, who escaped with minor arm cuts.
The incident - which police brass called an "assassination" - crippled the region.
Police ordered schools locked down and businesses and roads closed for hours while they hunted for the killer.
The victims weren't wearing bullet-proof vests.
Although Loomis, the international cash-security company that employed Alullo and Widmaier, encourages its guards to wear them, the company does not require it or provide the vests.
Yesterday, a retired police officer from Montgomeryville offered to donate several bullet-proof vests he has to Loomis.
Loomis spokesman Mark Clark said company officials will reevaluate their security policies.
"When something like this happens, we evaluate the incident to see what we can learn, and if we learn anything to motivate a change, certainly, we would make a change," Clark said.
The company also offered grief-counseling to employees, Clark added. Family members said Widmaer was just a month away from reti ing from Loomis.
He retired from the police force in 1989 and quickly went to work at Loomis.
Alullo retired in 2000 and joined Widmaier in the armored-truck business.
FOP president Bob Eddis complained that both men were forced to work dangerous jobs after their police careers because of the poor benefits offered to retired cops.
Eddis said retired cops have health insurance for only five years, and their pension is roughly 40 percent of their old pay.
"They survived their whole careers and had to go back out there and take these jobs," Eddis said.
"Now their families are left behind." *
“their pension is roughly 40 percent of their old pay. “
Wow. I would love that.
You know, I get from my husbands job maybe 20% of his old pay, and I thank God for it everyday. I live in a not so wealthy area of FL, and I know people living on $600 a month.
Seems like at some point, the only option in places slowly being overrun will be to take them back. It seems the people overrunning the neighborhoods are organized - move in in groups. DEMAND people do things the way they want them done. Push the old people out through intimidation.Refuse to integrate into the existing social or economic system. Earn a living by creating shadow economy revoloving around crime.
Sad state of things, but at some point, people are going to push back. It will require people to move into areas in groups. Improve things. Start rebuiding.
Defend each other. Actually help each other and take care of each other.
You can only retreat so far.
Having said that, In god, all things are possible. There may be another way to take the streets back from the thugs and malcontents.I cant figure out for the life of me what it is though.
The next ten years or so will be an interesting time in this country indeed.
Everyone keep praying and keep your eyes open.
i get quite a bit of grief when i post on various message boards about minorities, but you cant deny it.....blacks make up about 12 percent of the population but COMMIT ABOUT 60 PERCENT OF THE VIOLENT CRIME....
and the this joker caps it off by being a muslim....
what is going on in a country where everybody and i mean everybody....has the opportunity to get ahead...yet, this kind of mentality seems to be inbred....mainly because this country went out and bought a truckload of poverty in 1965, and we have the fruits coming home to roost on a daily basis im afraid...
The union is using this to push for more money. Philly cops get a pretty good retirement, 20 in and out,but the health benefits are NOT too good. They go to some local clinic to get checkups, prescriptions, etc. Many retire in their 40’s, get a job with health benefits, or more likely, retire and use the spouse’s benefits and work other jobs. It’s not TOO bad of a deal, but the Union wants more in order to up the union dues.
Prayers for the families....all are victims..I do wish bullet proof vests were mandatory.
The city could start by obeying the federal Constitution's Second Amendment, and Article 1, Section 21. of the PA state constitution.
“The right of the citizens to bear arms in defense of themselves and the State shall not be questioned.”
"Shall not be questioned", but you have to beg the Chief of Police for permission to bear arms, including long arms, in Philadelphia, (or the Sheriff elsewhere in the state)
But only for permission to bear a handgun. Outside of the City of Brotherly love, long arms do not require permission.
Except when you might need that long gun the most.
From the NRA/ILA summary of PA gun laws
It is unlawful to carry a handgun, rifle or shotgun upon the public streets or upon any public property during an emergency proclaimed by a governmental executive unless the person carrying is actively engaged in lawful self defense, is licensed to carry firearms, or is exempt from licensing requirements. It is unlawful to carry a handgun, rifle or shotgun upon the public streets or upon any public property in Philadelphia unless the person carrying is licensed to carry firearms or is exempt from licensing requirements.
Presumably, Mr. Ali. (at the ATM in question)
Jail house conversion? It seems that convicts have one religion they flock to. Perhaps because they can remain a thug and in good graces as well...
Yep. From my perspective, the only liveable nabes in Phila are Center City and Chestnut Hill. Manayunk is more of a collection of bars than an actual place to live.
The funny thing is, as a New Yorker, I am old enough to remember when folks in Philly used to mock New York as dangerous and rundown.
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