Selma woman shot to death on Philpot

Published 12:49 am Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Authorities have two suspects in custody in connection with Monday’s shooting death of a Selma woman.

Selma police decline to identify the two suspects, but residents in the area said the two men were Tommy Blythe and the other was called “Junior.”

“One of the suspects was inside the residence,” said Lt. David Evans. “We brought him out; got him to come out; and the other suspect was caught about two blocks away. Officers chased him and caught him about two block from here.”

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Jessica Colon, who police said appeared to be in her mid-20s, was shot in front of 1613 Philpot Ave. Police found the victim’s body in the front yard, lying face down in a pool of blood.

Police arrived at the location after a call of gunshots at 6:22 p.m. Officers cordoned off the area and cleared the house after hearing more shots.

More than 100 people gathered in large clusters at the block between St Phillips Street and Martin Luther King Street early Monday evening. Police lights flashed from 10 cars lining the street and yellow tape created a fence to the center of the crime scene: a pale blue house with a white Chrysler Sebring parked in the driveway.

A CARE Ambulance transported Colon to Vaughan Regional Medical Center. She was pronounced dead at the hospital.

A resident of the house, who wished to remain unidentified, watched from a neighbor’s front yard as police investigated the scene.

The shaken-up resident heard a man arguing with someone in the alley behind her house before shots were fired.

“After I heard the two shots, I ran inside of the house,” she said. “Then I heard a police officer say, ‘come out with your hands up.’’’

In the 20 years she has resided on Philpot Avenue, never has she witnessed anything like this.

“I’ve never seen violence like this in my neighborhood, ever,” she said.

Police recovered two weapons at the scene, a revolver and a semi-automatic handgun.

Friends say Colon’s death was unfortunate.

“She was just a beautiful person, Selma’s angel,” said Tanya Marshall, who lived down the street from the shooting. “It’s just another senseless murder; she didn’t deserve this.”

Details remain vague as police continue the investigation.

“We have some ideas, but it is still preliminary,” Evans said.

Anyone with information pertaining to the incident are encouraged to contact the Selma Police Department’s secret witness line at 874-2190 or Crimestoppers at 877-3530.