Gun At Officer Shooting Scene Traced To Duncannon Man (Philly Cop Shooting)

WGAL ^ | May 6, 2008

[Tallguy]

Police: Gun At Officer Shooting Scene Traced To Duncannon Man

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- A gun sold in Harrisburg for drugs wound up in Philadelphia, where it was found at the scene of a fatal shooting of a police officer, officials said.

Police said Levi Swigart, 19, of Duncannon, Perry County, told them he sold the .22-caliber revolver to buy crack from a man at a convenience store along Cameron Street in Harrisburg. Swigart's mother reported the gun stolen in February.

The same gun was found at the scene where Philadelphia police officer Steven Liczbinski was shot and killed over the weekend after he confronted three bank robbers, police said. Police said the gun was not used to kill Liczbinski, but it was used in other crimes, including a carjacking and armed robbery.

Swigart is now being held at the Perry County Prison on $500,000 bail. He faces federal charges.

[Tallguy]

I don't know if $500,000 bail is common in a weapons offense like this. Anybody know?

[Havok]

And this is why you should only purchase a gun privately. Keep yourself off the ATF lists.

[Joe 6-pack]

"And this is why you should only purchase a gun privately."

More to the point...this is why you should not sell your firearms to buy crack

[Palladin]

Levi is in a whole heap of trouble, and he deserves to be! Idiot kid. Selling a gun on the street to buy crack. That’s real cool.

Duncannon is a little one horse town north of Harrisburg, near the river. Kids up there used to get their jollies fishing on the river. Now the Philly monsters have got those kids hooked, too.

I approve of the bail. The kid is safer in jail anyway.

[Turbopilot]

How was this a “straw purchase”? The kid stole his mom’s gun and sold it for crack. Are they alleging that the mom bought the gun and then gave it to her son to buy crack, or are they just using the MSM Random Anti-Gun Term Generator again?

[jbenedic2]

Exactly. This isn’t a straw purchase but a theft of a firearm. The first crime was stealing the firearm (theft) and the second crime was selling it.

[spunkets]

"I don't know if $500,000 bail is common in a weapons offense like this. Anybody know?"

This ain't about a weapons offense. This is about murder, bank robbery carjacking and drug dealing.

The boy stole his momma's gun and traded it for drugs. He should be hung just for that.

[spunkets]

"More to the point...this is why you should not sell your firearms to buy crack "

The boy stole his momma's gun to buy crack.

[Tallguy]

Did you read the article? The gun was ‘found’ at the scene of the police shooting. The police are acknowledging that it wasn’t the murder weapon (the officer was shot by an automatic weapon according to reports). It’s not clear that the .22 pistol was ever discharged in this incident.

Not disputing that the kid should be arrested for illegally transfering a stolen firearm. I was interested in Philly’s response. Does the bail reflect an overreaction on the part of the DA & Judge? Philadelphia’s mayor (Nutter) & Rendell (PA Gov) are very anti-gun.

[spunkets]

Yes, I read it. It doesn't matter that the gun wasn't discharged. It was used in a string of crimes. It was also stolen by the boy and traded to known criminals for drugs. Decades of jail time are involved here, so the bail is not out of line. He'd have to come up with $50k to get out on bail. The bail amount means the parents would have to put their house up.

I don't see any anti-gun move here. It's simply a bail that reflects the severity of the crime committed. I wouldn't put my house up for my own kid if they stole my gun and traded it to criminals for drugs. Regardless of whether, or not the gun was ever used to commit crimes, it most likely would have, and that use would be to threaten, harm, or kill one, or more of my fellow citizens.

[Tallguy]

OK. I was looking for an opinion as to the size of the bail. You’re the only person that responded to that point. Thanks.