The search for a getaway driver who escaped police custody following a shooting in North Philadelphia led to the discovery of hundred of thousands of dollars' worth of heroin as well as weapons, according to police.
The ordeal began on the 4000 block of L Street Tuesday evening. Police say a 19-year-old gunman shot a 24-year-old man in the chest and then fled the scene in a vehicle driven by 19-year-old Lamic Conde.
Both suspects were then stopped by police on 10th and Russell streets about two miles away around 7:45 p.m.
As he was being placed inside a marked police vehicle, Conde managed to escape with handcuffs still on and fled the scene on foot, police said.
"For some reason, he was not in the car," said Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small. "Somehow he was able to get out of this police vehicle."
More police and K-9 units joined the search for Conde and a dog managed to track his scent to a nearby home, investigators said. As they searched the house they found a vehicle riddled with bullets, bundles of heroin worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, several assault weapons, ammunition and cellphones. Police are investigating the source of the drugs and weapons but believe it's unrelated to Conde and the shooting suspect.
While the unidentified shooting suspect was taken into custody, Conde remained on the loose. Conde is described as a man standing 5-foot, 8-inches tall and weighing 150 pounds. He has several tattoos around his neck as well as a red tattoo that says "family" above his right eye. He was last seen wearing a dark-colored shirt and blue jeans.
If you have any information on his whereabouts, please call Philadelphia Police.
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The 24-year-old man who was shot on L Street was taken to the hospital and listed in stable condition.
As for the home where the drugs and weapons stash was found, a SWAT team was called in to search the home. Investigators could later be seen taking bags from the building.
