Two people were in custody Tuesday as the search continued for the alleged shooter who police say got a fight over drugs on Memorial Day that left a 12-year-old girl Darby Borough girl in the hospital with a gunshot wound to the hip.
Shots rang out around 3 p.m. Monday on the 900 block of Forrester Avenue. Police say Tathina Diggs, 12, was going inside her grandfather's van when an argument between several people led to a someone opening fire. Diggs was struck in the hip.
"She was crying because she felt the sting of the bullet," said Leslie Baker, the girl's grandfather. "She was wondering why she was hurting all of a sudden."
Diggs was taken to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia where she underwent emergency surgery. She awake and in stable condition Tuesday -- she is expected to recover.
Police took Joshua Singleton, 22, and Lynnette Crawford, 35, who live together on the 900 block of Forrester into custody on drug charges late Monday. Police executed a search warrant and recovered evidence from their home.
Police say that Singleton got into an argument over drugs and that is when Vernon Smith, 23, began to open fire.
"The main guy that we wanna get is Vernon Smith. He's the guy that shot the little girl and that's the reason she's in the hospital," said Darby Borough Police Chief Robert Smythe at a press conference Tuesday afternoon. "He's a drug-dealing moron."
Police say they believe that Smith remains in the area but they have yet to find him.
Both Singleton and Crawford were arraigned on drug charges Tuesday and sent to jail -- unable to post bail, according to court records.
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A third man Jerill Singleton (no relation) was originally thought to be involved in the incident but wasn't, police said. He was still arrested for a parole violation because he allegedly had drugs on him, police said.
If you have any information Smith or his whereabouts please call Darby Borough Police at 610-586-1100.
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