DA Charges 3 Men In 2020 Murder Of 73-year-old Phoenixville Man

PHOENIXVILLE — Three men are charged with the December 2020 fatal shooting of a 73-year-old man, who was found lying in a pool of blood in the kitchen of his Phoenixville residence.

Ira Solomon was shot in the head at 12:52 p.m. Dec. 29, 2020 during a robbery at his home in the 400 block of Dayton Street, according to investigators.

He died as a result of a gunshot wound to the head, according to medical authorities. Arrested were:

• Raheem Pinder, 46, of Pottstown, who is in Chester County Prison without bail on charges of first-degree murder, robbery and related charges;
• Dayon Pinder, 44, of West Chester, who is in the state Correctional Institution at Houtzdale, charged in this case with second-degree murder, robbery and related charges;
• Nathaniel Pinder, 49, of Philadelphia, is in Delaware County Prison without bail on charges of second-degree murder, robbery and related charges.

First and second-degree murder carry mandatory life sentences.

Police said Raheem Pinder deliberately killed Solomon after all three suspects staged a robbery.

Friends of Solomon had either seen or spoken to him on the phone up until 11:30 a.m. on the morning of the killing.

One of the victim’s friends reported seeing an unknown silver or gray car in the area before the shooting.

Through their investigation, detectives located the car, a silver Nissan Altima, which was driven by Dayon Pinder.

Raheem Pinder, meanwhile, was living in a motel in Uwchlan Township.

Police said they traced Raheem Pinder to the scene through DNA analysis and video surveillance.

Phoenixville Police Chief Brian Marshall said hundreds of hours were devoted to the investigation by borough police, county detectives, state troopers and the Chester County District Attorney’s office.

“The abundance of home security footage provided to investigators was vital in quickly focusing on the suspects,” the chief said. “When a heinous act of taking another person’s life occurs, we will never stop seeking justice for the victim.”

District Attorney Deb Ryan said the investigators uncovered irrefutable evidence that even the Pinders could not outrun.

“We will continue to do everything possible to get Mr. Solomon, his family, and his loved ones the justice they deserve,” the district attorney said.

According to the police complaint:

• Police found two 9mm shell casings in the kitchen and another projectile in a nearby bathroom. A miniature baseball bat was beside the victim’s body, and a cell phone was in the victim’s waistband. No gun was found at the scene.
• Police spoke to a witness in the area who described hearing gunshots between 11:50 a.m. and 12:00 p.m.
• A witness told police he had previously introduced Dayon and Nathaniel Pinder to the victim.
• This acquaintance told the police that on the day of the murder, the Pinders accused him of owing them money, and Raheem Pinder pulled a semiautomatic handgun and pointed it at him.

Video recovered from multiple cameras in the Dayton Street area on the day of the murder showed:

• The Altima was driven and parked in the vicinity of the victim’s home between 11:13 and 11:53 a.m.
• A man wearing a black baseball cap with white writing, a black hooded sweatshirt, black pants, a black and white ski mask, and a glove with a white skeleton on it exited the car and walked around the victim’s house.
• The man, carrying a black drawstring bag with white writing, walked back to the Altima twice and spoke to the occupants.
• The man walked toward the victim’s house and minutes later ran and jumped into the Altima, which sped away.

Police obtained cellphone data that placed the suspects in the area of the murder.
Anyone with information about this case, please contact Phoenixville detectives at 610-933- 1180.