PHILADELPHIA (August 9, 2023) – Following investigation and arrest by SEPTA Police, the District Attorney’s Office has charged Heriberto Acevedo, Jr. (DOB: 10/30/1990), for an incident in July in which a SEPTA bus was fired upon and no one was injured. On July 14, 2023, at approximately 5:55 am on the 4200 block of North Front Street, Acevedo is alleged to have verbally threatened a SEPTA bus driver after being asked to pay fare upon boarding. After he exited the bus, a bullet struck a bus window (no one was injured). SEPTA Police pulled video footage from multiple cameras capturing the incident and were able to identify Acevedo as the alleged shooter. The DA’s Office approved an arrest warrant for Acevedo on August 2nd and he was apprehended by police on August 8th. “Once again, good investigative work by SEPTA Police which includes high-quality surveillance camera footage pulled from SEPTA facilities resulted in the timely identification and apprehension of a criminal defendant,” District Attorney Larry Krasner said. “While reported incidents of crime on SEPTA represent a tiny fraction of all reported crimes in Philly, we cannot tolerate violent behaviors that threaten the safety and comfort of transit workers and the riders who depend on SEPTA for transportation throughout the greater Philadelphia region. My office will continue to work collaboratively with SEPTA and SEPTA Police to improve safety on mass transit — a vital public good on which prosecutors, staff, jurors, witnesses, and defendants throughout the criminal legal system depend.”
The DA’s Office has charged Heriberto Acevedo, Jr., with Aggravated Assault, Violation of the Uniform Firearms Act 6105/6106/6108, Possession of an Instrument of Crime, Terroristic Threats, Simple Assault, and Recklessly Endangering Another Person. Acevedo, who according to police is unhoused, is prohibited from owning a firearm due to a 2018 gun conviction in Bucks County and a 2019 drug possession conviction in Philly. The DA’s Office continues to work collaboratively with SEPTA leadership and SEPTA Police to support a safe environment for transit workers and riders alike. According to SEPTA data, reported criminal incidents on SEPTA represented less than 1% of all reported incidents of crime in the city of Philadelphia. “If you are thinking about committing a violent crime on SEPTA, this is your notice. You will be on camera — we have over 30,000 on vehicles and in stations — and SEPTA Police will work tirelessly to bring you to justice,” said SEPTA CEO and General Manager Leslie S. Richards. “SEPTA is grateful for the close collaboration with the District Attorney’s Office in our efforts to ensure we have a safe and secure public transit system for everyone.”
CONTACT:Jane Roh, 215-686-8711, [email protected]
For FBI Philadelphia: Carrie Adamowski, 267-807-6482, [email protected]
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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. Learn more about the DAO by visiting PhillyDA.org.