A Philadelphia man is wanted on suspicion of shooting dead a woman, whom he had previously dated, at a gas station across the street from the King of Prussia Mall.
Rafiq Thompson, 38, allegedly killed 31-year-old Tamara Cornelius while she was pumping gas at an Exxon station on the 100 block of North Gulph Road Friday night, the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office said in a press release.
Detectives determined that Thompson and Cornelius had a previous relationship and met up briefly around 9:11 p.m. before Cornelius went inside to eat at a restaurant, the district attorney’s office said.
Cornelius left the restaurant a little over an hour later and was followed by Thompson as she drove to the gas station, prosecutors said. As Cornelius pumped gas, Thompson spoke with her and then opened fire, the DA’s office said.
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He continued to shoot her as she tried to get away, the DA’s office added. Cornelius was declared dead at Paoli Hospital at 11:09 p.m., 47 minutes after police officers first responded to the gas station and found her bleeding from multiple gunshot wounds, prosecutors said.
NBC10 cameras showed several spent shell casings on the ground near a sedan parked next to a pump.
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Thompson, who lives on North 47th Street in Philadelphia, is considered armed and dangerous, the Montgomery County DA’s office said.
He’s described as being 5 feet, 7 inches tall and weighing around 167 pounds. Anyone who spots him is asked to immediately call 911.
He faces counts of first-degree murder, illegal possession of a gun and related charges. Prosecutors are treating the killing as a case of domestic violence, since the suspect and victim dated before, Montgomery County District Attorney's office spokeswoman Kate Delano said.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline by calling 1-800-799-SAFE (7233), visiting www.thehotline.org or texting LOVEIS to 22522.
