Teen accused of shooting as adult to face juvenile court

A Philadelphia teenager originally charged as an adult for allegedly shooting an Upper Darby dollar store employee during a Thanksgiving shoplifting spree will have his case moved to court for minors.

Assistant Prosecutor Katie Magee and defense attorney Alyssa Poole told Common Pleas Court Judge Mary Alice Brennan on Thursday that Zion Morales would admit to charges of aggravated assault and possession of a firearm by a minor at a future hearing and had accepted the placement.

Morales, 17, of the 6100 block of West Oxford Street, was initially charged with attempted murder, robbery, aggravated and simple assault, reckless endangerment and firearms offenses. fire for the Nov. 23 incident outside the Dollar Deal at 71 S. 69th St.

He was among four youths who allegedly shoplifted that day at various stores along the commercial corridor, according to a probable cause affidavit written by Upper Darby Detective Jeffery Simpson.

Morales allegedly shot a 29-year-old Dollar Deal employee after staff confronted the youths inside the store and an altercation spilled into the street.

The bullet ricocheted off the contents of the man's wallet, leaving him unharmed.

The juveniles fled, but Morales was arrested by Philadelphia police the next day and reportedly admitted to the shooting when questioned by Upper Darby detectives.

Morales has been held on $1 million bail since his arrest and waived a preliminary hearing in January.

He is currently housed in an out-of-county juvenile offender facility and is expected to be brought to Delaware County on Monday for decertification.