PHILADELPHIA (February 8, 2024) – Prosecutors with the District Attorney’s Gun Violence Task Force on Thursday announced the conviction of a motorcyclist who violently threatened a woman with young children inside her car during an unauthorized motor “meet-up.”
The shocking incident in which Cody Heron (DOB: 10/22/1996) jumped off his motorcycle, as fellow bikers and drivers jammed traffic outside of City Hall, and jumped up and down on a vehicle carrying a woman who was just trying to make food deliveries, was captured on video and quickly went viral. In the October 1, 2023, incident, Heron smashed out the woman’s rear window, sending shards of glass flying onto two young children inside.
When the woman exited her vehicle in an effort to protect her children, Heron head-butted and brandished a firearm at her.
Philadelphia Police used the viral video and other information to quickly identify Heron as the motorcyclist. On October 4, 2023, the DA’s Gun Violence Task Force (GVTF) charged Heron with Aggravated Assault and related offenses.
Philadelphia Police and the GVTF continued to investigate the incident and recovered additional information including digital communications showing that Heron attempted to evade accountability by destroying evidence – even using another person’s online profile to deflect attention from investigators.
During a pre-trial status hearing on Wednesday, in which prosecutors made clear they were fully prepared to try Heron in front of a judge or jury, Heron pleaded guilty to two counts of Aggravated Assault and one count of Possession of an Instrument of Crime.
“I want to thank our partners at the Philadelphia Police as well as Gun Violence Task Force ADAs Fernanda Sandoval and Kevin Bentancur for their dedicated investigation of this brazen incident, which outraged Philadelphians,” District Attorney Larry Krasner said. “The foundation of public safety is regard and respect for our neighbors, which is why these chaotic scenes of groups of people harming others and defying traffic laws are so disturbing. The swift identification, arrest, and conviction of Cody Heron give new meaning to the phrase ‘fast and furious.’”
“I want to thank the officers and detectives with the Philadelphia Police Department who worked with us to quickly ID Cody Heron as the gun-wielding, helmeted motorcyclist, despite his efforts to duck accountability for this shocking crime,” GVTF Chief Bill Fritze said. “I want the motorists who plan these chaotic meet-ups for digital clicks and views – with no apparent regard for other drivers and passengers, including small children – to know that we and our law enforcement partners will use all tools to track you down and hold you accountable.”
Sentencing for Cody Heron is scheduled for June 5, 2024, before the Hon. Zachary Shaffer.
CONTACT:Jane Roh, 215-686-8711, [email protected]
###
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. Learn more about the DAO by visiting PhillyDA.org.