UPPER DARBY — A forgotten Apple wristwatch helped police charge a Philadelphia man in connection with the April 2021 murder of a township man that occurred during a robbery on the 7200 block of Ruskin Lane.
Police charged Antonio Kelly, 19, of the 2600 block of N. 24th St. in Philadelphia, with murder, criminal homicide, robbery and firearms violations.
It was just after 3 a.m. on Friday, April 9, 2021, when a man called police to report he had been shot and robbed by two black males. With his dying breath, the 28-year-old victim described to police dispatchers the black hooded sweatshirts and clothes the perpetrators were wearing.
Police and Crozer Health paramedics arrived and transported the victim to Penn Presbyterian Hospital; however, he died that afternoon.
At the crime scene, police found two spent 9 mm cartridges. They also checked surveillance video from local businesses. Police were able to view multiple surveillance videos to track the suspects as they entered an alleyway behind Galloway’s Pub and the 7200 block of Guilford Road, which leads to the area on Rustin where the crime occurred.
Police also found video of the men leaving the scene following the shooting and the subject in the puffy jacket putting an object in his left pocket.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, the video also showed the two men wearing clothing consistent with the perpetrators of a carjacking just two days earlier on the 7800 block of Westview Ave.
The victim of that carjacking told police about having his newly purchased 2019 blue Volkswagen Jetta stolen. It still had a temporary New Jersey tag and a plate holder from the dealer Autotec on it. One of the suspects in that crime wore a puffy jacket with an emblem on the left arm.
The victim also left his phone in the car, which police traced to the area of South Cecil and Baltimore Avenue. They went to that location and found the phone on the street nearby.
Days later, undercover police in an unmarked car spotted a blue Jetta near Baltimore Ave not far from where the phone was found. A check of the license showed it was a recalled tag dead out of Delaware. It also had an Autotec license plate holder consistent with the one the victim described.
A marked police car attempted to stop the Jetta, which fled. Police followed but ended the pursuit for safety reasons.
That night, Philadelphia police alerted Upper Darby police that they observed a livestream video of that pursuit.
That same day, another officer spotted the blue Jetta at a convenience store as he was going to a call. By the time he circled back, it had left, but police examined video that showed the two men who were in the Jetta wearing clothing from the shooting. In one shot, both suspects pulled down their facemasks which allowed a clear view of their faces. One of the men was also seen wearing an Apple watch with a light-colored band.
Police showed that video to a Philadelphia Probation officer who confirmed it was Antonio Kelly, the same person who had been seen in the other videos. He was wearing a puffy jacket with an emblem on the arm.
On Friday, April 16, 2021, Philadelphia police found the blue Jetta at 56th and Kingsessing Avenue. It was secured and taken to Upper Darby police headquarters.
Inside, police found a distinctive Rose Gold Apple Watch, with a light pink series 5 that the car owner said was not his. When the car was started to be moved, the watch synced with the car stereo system which identified the watch as “Big 53.”
A search warrant served with Apple showed that “Big 53” was owned by Antonio Kelly of the 1800 block of Church St. Philadelphia, Kelly’s mother’s house.
Police also had information from Philadelphia police connecting Kelly to other incidents in the city.
At that point, Kelly was a fugitive as police searched for his whereabouts.
On Wednesday, June 22, 2022, police determined that Kelly was at a residence in the 2600 block of N. 24th Street in Philadelphia. He was arrested at that location and returned to Upper Darby headquarters.
Police found a puffy jacket in the house with an emblem on the left arm that matched the one seen in the carjacking, the murder and at the convenience store later that week.
During an interview at the station, Kelly admitted to involvement in the carjacking and the homicide and to being the male wearing the black puffy jacket in the surveillance videos.
Kelly also admitted to operating the blue Jetta following the carjacking and at the homicide.
According to the affidavit, Kelly claimed during the fatal homicide that the other male wanted to commit the robbery and when they approached the victim, there was an altercation where 2-3 shots were fired.
Upper Darby Police Superintendent Timothy Bernhardt said he is confident Antonio Kelly is responsible for the shooting death of the 28-year-old victim and police are still working on finding the second person involved.
Bernhardt credited detectives with outstanding work.
“Detective Hanshaw and Detective Matt Rugh, they knocked on every door in that area, every business, they were out there day-in day-out,” Bernhardt said. “They were able to get a little video surveillance and start working with that.”
Bernhardt said the gun used in the crime was recovered on a search warrant on another incident in the township.
Bernhardt also credited help from the Philadelphia police, the District Attorney’s office and the FBI for assistance.
“The partnerships we have going on in the township and outside agencies and detectives working tirelessly helped to bring Antonio Kelly to justice,” Bernhardt said. “We were not only able to charge him with the murder but other carjackings in the township as well. It was very complex, very challenging for them. This is old school 24-7 investigative work to bring justice to this family and victim.”
“I want people to know, we won’t stop until we get these individuals into custody,” Bernhardt said.
