A lead suspect in the double murders at the Piazza in June tells police one of the victims -- party planner Rian Thal -- was in on the robbery that ultimately led to her death, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Donnell Murchison, who police say was the main gunman, told authorities that Thal and another convicted drug dealer helped plan the heist at her 7th floor apartment inside the Navona complex. Thal's supplier was making a delivery that day and the thinking was if someone she knew stole the goods, Thal could get some of the drugs or a kickback in cash, according to Murchison.
But in what police call a botched robbery, Thal and Timothy Gilmore were gunned down as they got off the elevator to go to her apartment that Saturday afternoon. The killings were caught on several surveillance cameras inside the complex. Four kilograms of cocaine and more than $100,000 were found inside her apartment.
Investigators haven't commented on what they think about Murchison's claim, according to the report.
Seven people were charged in the case and they were all expected in court Wednesday for a hearing.
The courtroom was packed as one of those people, Katoya Jones, took the stand. Jones confessed to holding the door open the day of the shooting. She never thought anyone would be killed and had hoped to get $50,000 to $60,000 for her role in the burglary, she testified.
Jones' ex-boyfriend Will "Pooh" Hook was fingered as the mastermind of the burglary by three different defendants.
Hook's attorney though denied that his client had anything to do with the murders.
"My client has stated repeatedly that he was not involved in this," said Hook's attorney Christopher Warren.
Jones agreed to plead guilty to third-degree murder. She will testify against the other six defendants who were all held for trial, according to the Inquirer.
