Abduction Case

Philadelphia police announced they have arrested a man who was holding a deaf mute captive in his basement and stealing his Social Security checks.

In a case reminiscent of the disabled people allegedly held captive in the Linda Weston case, Investigators said the 63-year-old victim was allegedly physically abused by Dwayne Young, 56, for several months. Police arrested Young after they found the victim locked inside the basement of a Southwest Philadelphia residence against his will. The victim was abducted in the vicinity of 18th and Washington streets and his monthly checks were stolen and cashed.

The Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office has charged Young with aggravated assault, kidnapping for ransom, theft, theft by deception, theft by extortion, forgery, unlawful restraint, possession of an instrument of crime and terroristic threats. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on September 18 in courtroom 503.

Deadly Shooting

Homicide detectives said they have identified a young Black male who was shot to death outside a friend’s house in the city’s Olney section early Thursday morning.

The victim was identified as Willie Lee Withers, 32, of the 800 block of S. 58th St. Withers had been shot in the head and chest multiple times by a still unidentified assailant. As of Tribune press time, no arrests have been made and the motive is still undetermined.

According to police the incident happened at 12:28 a.m. in the 200 block of Duncannon Street. The victim managed to run into a friend’s house before collapsing on the second floor. He was pronounced dead by responding medics at 12:32 a.m. Detectives recovered 24 shell casings from two different handguns at the scene and are looking for three Black males who fled the vicinity.

As with all homicide cases in Philadelphia, there is a standing reward of $20,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of any of the shooters in this incident.