Sadsbury Twp. Homicide Details Show Cold Premediation, Says DA

WEST CHESTER, PA — Days after a Philadelphia woman announced she was leaving one of the men, he and another headed to Chester County with a handgun — after threatening to kill members of the woman's family who live there, according to law enforcement.

After two Philadelphia men were charged in the June 22 slaying of a Sadsbury Township man, Chester County's District Attorney released details of the homicide that she said reveal "cold-blooded and premeditated murder," supporting the first-degree murder charge both men face.

Pennsylvania State Police and the Chester County District Attorney's Office this week announced charges against Lynelle Flowers, 26, and Zahir Randall, 21, for the murder of 22-year-old Tariq Scott Jr., in Sadsbury Township in Chester County.

The criminal complaint against Flowers accuses him of shooting into a car where Scott was sitting with a woman — Scott's girlfriend — and her young child. Two days earlier, on June 20, Flowers had assaulted the woman in their shared Philadelphia home after she said she was leaving him and taking their two children, according to the District Attorney's report.

The report said Flowers punched and choked her and then slammed her against the floor, leaving her with a concussion and bruising to her left eye socket, the D.A.'s report said. Flowers also allegedly threatened to kill the woman's father and stepfather, who both live in Chester County, according to the report.

Also on June 20, other relatives of Scott traveled to Philadelphia from Chester County to take custody of the children, but Flowers and his family members assaulted them, the D.A.'s report said.

While the woman was at the Philadelphia house to take her belongings, Flowers was seen retrieving what is believed to be a handgun he kept on top of the kitchen cabinet, according to the report. Scott's girlfriend told him and others about the threats Flowers made, the report said.

The victim's father told investigators that Flowers called him many times between June 20 and June 21, asking for his address so he could fight him. Scott's father eventually blocked his harassing phone calls, the D.A.'s report said.

Randall, the co-defendant, drove Flowers to Sadsbury Township from Philadelphia intending to kill, the D.A.'s report said. Investigators said they learned that Flowers and Randall waited near Scott's home for about an hour before the murder.

The D.A.'s report states that in the early hours of June 22, the victim, his girlfriend, and her one-year-old child were sitting in a car outside the Sadsbury Township home he shared with his father when Flowers got out of the car Randall was driving and fired multiple shots at close range into the vehicle, shooting Scott in the neck.

The woman in the car dove into the backseat to protect her child and called 911. The defendants immediately fled from the area, the D.A.'s report said.

Fired cartridge casings and two projectiles were recovered at the crime scene, the D.A.'s report said.

Both defendants are charged with criminal homicide, murder of the first degree, aggravated assault, conspiracy, and related offenses.

Chester County District Attorney Deb Ryan said, "The defendants lay in wait under cover of darkness to execute an innocent man while his girlfriend and her one-year-old child were inside the car with him. This cold-blooded and premeditated murder is another senseless crime."

PA State Police spent two months investigating the case before charges were filed on Tuesday. Authorities acknowledged the joint effort of departments.

"On behalf of the Pennsylvania State Police, we would like to thank the members of the Chester County District Attorney's Office, the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office, as well as the investigating members from the Pennsylvania State Police for their cooperation, collaboration, and coordination in bringing justice to the Scott family," said Kevin Kochka, PA State Trooper and Public Information Officer Troop J.

Ryan added, "My condolences go out to the victim's family for the heartbreaking loss of their loved one. Thank you to the Pennsylvania State Police for their dogged pursuit and apprehension of the two defendants — the first step towards bringing justice to the victim's family. The residents of Chester County and Philadelphia are safer today with these criminals off the streets."

Flowers and Randall are in custody awaiting preliminary hearings on Aug. 26. Bail was denied, according to court records.

PA State Police is investigating. Deputy District Attorney Bill Judge is the assigned prosecutor.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to call PSP-Embreeville at 610-486- 6280.

Make sure you know what's happening in your town. Sign up to get Patch emails and don't miss any local news: https://patch.com/subscribe.