DA Krasner Announces Charges Following Violent Carjacking
By: Philadelphia Dao
Tags: Criminal Justice, Press Release, Philadelphia

CONTACT:

Jane Roh, 215–686–8711, Jane.Roh@phila.gov

PHILADELPHIA (April 5, 2021) — District Attorney Larry Krasner announced Attempted Murder and related charges have been filed against Shamika Brown-Palmer (DOB: 04/23/1994) for her role in a series of violent incidents including carjacking late last month.

At approximately 5:40 p.m. on Monday, March 22nd, Brown-Palmer is alleged to have unlawfully entered a vehicle around the 1900 block of Ithan Street in the Kingsessing area. Following an attempt to remove Brown-Palmer from the vehicle, the defendant fired several shots at the vehicle’s owner and a friend as they were retreating. Still armed, Brown-Palmer is then alleged to have unlawfully entered another vehicle, which was occupied, and driven it away.

During the course of this second criminal incident, Brown-Palmer is alleged to have picked up an acquaintance in Olney, with the vehicle’s owner still in the car. Brown-Palmer eventually stopped in the area of Springfield Avenue in Southwest Philadelphia, exited the vehicle and walked away.

Later that evening, at approximately 6:58 p.m., 12th District Police responded to the area of 5600 Pentridge following reports of a shooting. Brown-Palmer is alleged to have shot the owner of a third vehicle in the back during the course of a carjacking. Parts of this third incident were captured on video, leading to police observing the stolen vehicle in the area of 56th and Kingsessing Avenue. Brown-Palmer is alleged to have led officers on a vehicle pursuit through South Philadelphia, over the Walt Whitman Bridge, and onto the Atlantic City Expressway.

Brown-Palmer was apprehended by police after losing control of the stolen vehicle and crashing into a guardrail near Exit 38. A 22-caliber Ruger semi-automatic firearm, which was lawfully purchased and permitted by the defendant, who has no prior criminal history, was recovered from her waistband.

“This defendant has no history of involvement in the criminal justice system. She had a lawfully purchased gun. This case underscores the need to regulate the manufacture and flow of firearms in the United States, a country that has more guns than people,” District Attorney Krasner said.

“Living in daily fear of gun violence is not freedom. I thank the Philadelphia Police and New Jersey State Police for helping to bring this defendant into custody, and am grateful they were not harmed while doing so. All of our communities deserve to know the peace and freedom of living without fear of gun violence.”

For the three criminal incidents, the District Attorney has charged Brown-Palmer with 2 counts of Attempted Murder (F), 3 counts of Robbery (F1), 2 counts of Carjacking (F1), 2 counts of Aggravated Assault (F1), 1 count of Kidnapping (F1), and related offenses. She was arrested by Philadelphia Police and charged on Friday, April 2nd, after also being detained and charged with multiple offenses related to the police pursuit in New Jersey.

Brown-Palmer is being detained in Philadelphia on $5 million bail.

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The Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office is the largest prosecutor’s office in Pennsylvania, and one of the largest in the nation. It serves the more than 1.5 million residents of the City and County of Philadelphia, employing 600 lawyers, detectives, and support staff. The District Attorney’s Office is responsible for the prosecution of approximately 40,000 criminal cases annually.