'Stray bullet' suspect leads police on chase

CHESTER, Pa. - November 19, 2009 (WPVI) -- One of the teens charged in the death of a woman, hit by a stray bullet in Chester, led police on a chase after he appeared in court.

Investigators announced the charges against Dominique Smith, 19, and and Abdul Johnson, 17, on Thursday.

Johnson was charged as an adult. The suspects were held earlier in the day on unrelated charges.

However, after he was charged, police say Johnson managed to briefly get away.

Police drove the suspects to the Delaware County prison around 4:30 p.m. Thursday. The officers then got out of the car to check in. This is when investigators say Johnson, who was handcuffed, jumped into the front seat, commandeered the car, and led police all the way back to Chester, ultimately crashing on the front porch of Lamont and Lynn Lee''s home on 6th Street near Highland Avenue.

"Thank God I was already in the house because I just walked through the door," Lynn said.

Johnson was arrested, taken back into custody and transported to the Delaware County prison.

District Attorney Mike Green has launched an internal investigation into the facts that led to the temporary escape of Abdul Johnson.

The victim, 49-year-old Kathy Stewart, was in bed when she was hit in the head by a bullet that came through a wall and a headboard on Sunday night. She was caring for her mother, who is stricken with cancer, in her home in the 300 block of Franklin Street.

Sources tell Action News that Smith and Johnson were looking to 'even the score' with someone who lives next door to Stewart. The two suspects fired into that person's home, and the home Stewart was in. Police say she was, in no way, the target of the shooting.

Stewart died on Tuesday.

"It's crazy, it's senseless. My sister is just laying in bed, and people are just shooting in the projects," said Stewart's brother, Jerome, on Thursday. He said when police came to tell the family about the arrests, he was brought to tears.

Stewart's daughter said, just knowing that two suspects are in custody is comforting to her.

"I'm happy that they found the people and everything," she said. When asked if she thought this would help the family get over the death, she said "No" then added, "But it's a start."

Funeral arrangements for Kathy Stewart are now set for next Wednesday morning at Bethany Baptist Church in Chester.

As police continue the investigation, anyone with information on this case is asked to call 610-447-7931.

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