Homicide was not a random killing, police say

According to detectives, Anthony Davis was the intended target of the unknown gunman. Conflicting stories as to what triggered the series of gunshots that killed a North Philadelphia man and injured three others Sunday outside the Palestra continue to emerge from the woodwork as the investigation into the incident extends into its third day. But to detectives in the Philadelphia Police Department's Homicide Unit, one thing is clear: although the incident was entirely unrelated to the high school basketball championship that took place in the Palestra, the shots that killed Anthony Davis, 22, on 33rd Street near Hill House following the game were no accident. According to Homicide detectives investigating the case, Davis, of the 1400 block of North 17th Street, probably provoked the gunfire when he fired his own gun before doubling over when two fatal bullets lodged in his chest. He had been in his Lexus with his friend, Anthony Noble, 19, who was also wounded in the shooting. Sgt. Irma Labrice, a detective with the PPD's Homicide Unit, said Davis -- who had a criminal record -- had been involved in the first of several fistfights inside the Palestra broken up by University Police during the Philadelphia Public League high school boys basketball championship. Homicide detectives and witnesses said the conflict was the culmination of a weeks-long feud between Davis and his North Philadelphia friends -- a group the Philadelphia Daily News identified as the Stiles Street Gang -- and a small, loosely organized gang based in South Philadelphia, which the Daily News identified as the 5th Street gang. "We have several leads that we are following," Labrice said. She refused to say whether detectives had narrowed their search to one suspect, but said they believed a male involved in the South Philadelphia gang was responsible for the shootings. Despite the fact that the motive for the shooting was unrelated to the game, Sunday's shooting continues to raise serious doubts as to whether the Palestra should host the basketball championship again. In addition to Davis and Noble, two other people were wounded in the shooting: College senior John La Bombard, 22, and Latisha Feribee, 19, who police said was an acquaintance of Davis and Noble. University administrators continue to mull over whether or not to host the event -- which brought gunshots last year as well -- at the Palestra next year. And an unconfirmed report on WPVI-Channel 6 said Drexel University officials decided not to host the Public League Coaches' All-Star Doubleheader on March 22. According to Sgt. Alex Strong, another Homicide detective investigating the shooting, a red-jacketed friend of Davis' who police arrested at the scene and charged with a weapons violation might be a valuable key to solidifying a suspect and making an arrest. Davis was a suspect in a South Philadelphia shooting some two weeks before he was killed, detectives said. No warrant had been obtained for his arrest. Homicide detectives were unwilling to disclose further details about the previous shooting. Sgt. Joe Gavola, a tactical sergeant for the Philadelphia Police Department's 3rd District -- which includes the area of South Philadelphia where the 5th Street Gang is reportedly located -- said he was not aware of the existence of such a gang, adding that no gangs in the area had attained any real infamy. Gavola said South 5th Street is home to a few "drug corners where kids hang out," but he added that he said he was not "aware of any organized gangs." Although Homicide Inspector Jerrold Kane told other news organizations that drugs were probably the source of contention between the two groups, Labrice said yesterday that Sunday's conflict "wasn't over drugs." She declined to call Davis a "drug dealer," even though Davis has been convicted of drug-related crimes. "I've looked through lots of paperwork on this matter, and I don't believe [drugs were an issue]," Labrice said, adding that no narcotics were found at the scene of the crime. Davis' family members, too, maintained that he was not a drug dealer and instead made his small fortune by gambling. He made enough to buy the sleek 1996 Lexus he abandoned on 33rd Street Sunday. But a police officer who was on patrol at the scene said the conflict was a drug rivalry and Davis -- who was known as "Tupac" -- was the "kingpin" of the North Philadelphia group. Homicide officials said Davis' criminal record includes nine arrests and two convictions for offenses ranging from theft to narcotics violations, but the South Philadelphia shooting was the most serious offense the man had been suspected of committing. A University Police officer who requested anonymity said police "expected" violence at Sunday's game. "I think you would need an army [to control the situation]," the officer said. "Everybody down there had a gun, especially if they were driving an Acura or a Lexus.? It's the nature of the crowd." Daily Pennsylvanian staff writer Seth Grossman contributed to this article.