North Philly man accused of killing friend and leaving the body in Lower Merion is charged with murder

A North Philadelphia man who authorities say shot a friend inside a van they were riding in late Sunday, then left his body near the campus of St. Joseph’s University, was charged with murder Tuesday after turning himself in to law enforcement officials.

Tyreese Quinerley, 39, surrendered to Lower Merion police and Montgomery County detectives shortly before 2 p.m., a spokesperson for the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office said. Quinerley was charged with first- and third-degree murder and related crimes in the death of Jefferson Shackford.

Quinerley called police to the scene, on City Avenue near Cardinal Avenue in Lower Merion Township, according to an affidavit of probable cause for his arrest.

He initially told officers he was a bystander, concerned about Shackford, 31, after nearly hitting him with his van as Shackford was lying in the road. Quinerley, who seemed nervous and was sweating as he spoke with the officers, said he called 911 out of concern for Shackford, whom he said he didn’t know.

Investigators, however, said they quickly determined that Quinerley was lying.

Medics took Shackford to nearby Lankenau Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead from multiple gunshot wounds, the affidavit said. He was carrying a cellphone, and call logs retrieved from the device led to the unravelling of Quinerley’s version of events.

Detectives found that Quinerley and Shackford had called each other multiple times on Saturday, the affidavit said. In the 911 calls Quinerley made, he is overheard referring to Shackford by the nickname “Creek,” seemingly indicating he knew him.

Quinerley’s girlfriend told detectives that Quinerley and Shackford were friends, and grew up in the same neighborhood in North Philadelphia, the affidavit said.

Investigators later interviewed two witnesses who told them they saw a green van matching the description of Quinerley’s vehicle driving erratically and weaving through traffic on City Avenue late Sunday. While the van was stopped at a red light, they said, the driver of the van got out and fired a handgun into the van before getting back in and speeding off.

The driver’s description, including the clothing he was wearing, matched Quinerley, detectives said.

Surveillance video from the scene showed a van pulling up to the location where Shackford’s body was found shortly before 11 p.m. Sunday, according to the affidavit. The driver was seen getting out of the van, walking to its passenger side and pulling out a body.

Quinerley has a long criminal record in Philadelphia, including guilty pleas to aggravated assault and drug charges, court records show. He is not eligible to possess a firearm.