It happened on Saturday around 6:45 pm at Our Town Alley, former Facenda Whitaker Lanes, located at block 2,900 of Swede Road.
Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele said the suspect, 17-year-old Jamel Barnwell, is wanted for the crime. He is being considered armed and dangerous.
Officials say Barnwell entered the bowling alley with two other men and an altercation followed with the victim, Frank Wade, of West Philadelphia, 29.
Barnwell is accused of firing 15 shots into the bowling alley and killing Wade, who was shot to death while on the ground.
Authorities say Barnell and the men he was with fled the bowling alley after the shooting. They left behind three cell phones, one of which belonged to Barnwell.
“We are looking for the three men involved and asking the public for help to find the sniper, Barnwell. If you see him, do not approach him, as he is considered armed and dangerous because he ran away from the bowling alley with the gun he used to use kill Frank Wade, “said Steele.
Four other Wade family members were also injured in the shooting. They were identified as a 31 year old man, a 21 year old man, a 19 year old man and a 26 year old man. All four victims are listed in stable condition at a hospital in the area.
Wade’s wife said he was a loving husband and father of two who wanted to be a chef.
“He was a good person. Frank had a lot of hopes and dreams. He was never a violent person. He was never on the streets. He wanted the best,” said Syreta Stanford.
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Steele says there were about 50 to 75 people, including small children, who were inside the bowling alley when the shooting started. Some people took shelter in a nearby mechanical closet.
“You start to hear ‘Pop pop pop pop pop.’ You hear them leaving and everyone panics, running towards the bottom, “said Harry Delmar, who was on the bowling alley with his family, including his 2-year-old niece and 9-year-old nephew.
“Making sure they left safely. My first priority was children. I didn’t care about myself. I didn’t know how close the person was, where he was, whether he would go straight to the street,” said Megan Jantzi, a bride from Delmar.
The Jantzi family returned on Sunday to get the car. They had left everything inside the house and a stranger took them home.
“A stranger, that was so cool. But I ended up talking to him and I’m going to send him a thank you note today,” said Jantzi’s mother, Jeanne.
Barnwell is facing murder charges. He is described as being 1.90 m tall and weighing around 150 pounds.
Anyone with any information should call the Montgomery County Detective Department’s Criminal Information Line at 610-278-DOIT (3648). Or send an anonymous text tip using Montco Crime Tips on STOPit! application.
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