Teen To Be Charged As An Adult For Murder Of Father Killed In Philadelphia

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A 16-year-old boy will be charged as an adult in connection with the murder of Doylestown native Gerard Grandzol in Philadelphia last week, police have said.

Philadelphia Police said on Monday that Marvin Roberts of the 3300 block of Sydenham Street has been charged with murder, robbery, carjacking and other related charges. He will be charged as an adult.

Authorities say that Roberts filed the fatal shot that killed Grandzol, 38.

Roberts’ older brother, 21-year-old Maurice Robers, has also been arrested in connection with the crime.

According to media reports, the father, daughter and family dog were returning from an outing at Fairmount Park’s Lemon Hill. As Grandzol finished parking near his home along the 1500 block of Melon Street, two men dressed in black held him up at gunpoint.

He handed over his wallet and then the suspects tried to steal his SUV, but his 2-year-old daughter was inside. Philly.com reported Grandzol did not resist, but said he wanted to get his child out first. That is when the teen allegedly shot the man twice in the face.

Neighbors then rushed to help him but he died about 90 minutes later at Hahnemann University Hospital, according to police.

Granzol’s daughter was crying in the backseat when authorities arrived, the news report said. The fatal shooting was captured on surveillance video.

Loved ones and friends were shocked and say they will greatly miss Grandzol, a proud father who was active in community organizations and was fondly referred to as the “mayor” by neighbors. He and his wife had also just recently welcomed their second daughter in July.

Grandzol is a 1997 graduate of Archbishop Wood High School in Warminster, Pa., where he played varsity ice hockey.

An online fundraiser has been set up in support of Grandzol’s wife and two children, one of whom witnessed the brutal crime.

There seems to be a spike in carjackings, if you become a victim of carjacking the most important thing is to not resist and remember your lives are more valuable than the most expensive car. While the circumstances of each situation may differ here are a few steps which could potentially save your life and the lives of your children.

1. If your kids are old enough, it is advisable that you undo the child-lock system.
2. If you have a central locking system and you are approached by a carjacker, remember to open all doors before you get out of the car and hand over the keys. This will ensure that your rear doors are open and that you can get your kids out while the carjacker gets into the driver seat.
3. If you have one child in the car with you, make sure that they are sitting directly behind you and not in the left rear seat. This way it will save you time and it will be easier for you to help your child to get out of the car.
4. If you have two kids travelling with you, teach them how to loosen their seatbelts and open their doors (if they are old enough of course).
5. The eldest child should be sitting behind the driver seat and the youngest child to the left, why? If you are involved an attempted carjacking and your children are in the car, you are able to get out of the vehicle and go to the back door directly behind the your door. You should keep one foot inside the car, behind the driver’s seat, then lean across to retrieve the younger child. The older child will most likely cling onto you and you are then able to get both children out of the car.  Always stay calm. If the carjackers panic and the car moves before you have a firm hold on your child/children, your firm footing inside the car will ensure your body weight is thrown into the vehicle, instead of you being left behind and the carjackers driving off with your child/children.
6. DO NOT place car keys in pockets. The carjacker will think that you are reaching for a firearm when ypu grab your keys. Rather keep the keys in the arm rest or close by. The key to your car is your bargaining tool that will buy you time to get your child out of the car.
7. Always face your body sideways when you get out the car, try avoid facing the carjacker – your shoulder facing him/her if possible. This will prevent any vital organs from being in the line of fire should the carjacker shoot.
8. Do not interact with the carjacker unless you have to.