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Authorities say Eric Floyd, 33, wanted in connection with the shooting death of Philadelphia police sergeant Stephen Liczbinski, may still be in the area. But the manhunt has been extended and intensified up and down the east coast.
The reward for information now tops $100,000. Tips may be submitted anonymously.
The massive manhunt for the third suspect wanted in connection with the fatal shooting of a Philadelphia police officer has expanded, and now includes the FBI and police agencies all along the east coast.
KYW report that Philadelphia police say it is possible that Eric Floyd, 33, is still in the area. But he also may have managed to elude the local dragnet and that’s why police have widened the search area.
Floyd is wanted in the bank robbery that led to the fatal shooting of Sgt. Stephen Liczbinski, who caught up with the trio of bandits in Port Richmond. The sergeant was shot dead by one suspect who later was killed by police. A second man already is charged and in custody.
Philadelphia police commissioner Charles Ramsey says a reward fund that has grown to over $100,000 has produced several tips but nothing solid enough to close in and apprehend Floyd. He says police have talked to many people who are acquainted with Floyd and advised them it would be in his best interest to surrender:
“Obviously we have been in touch with nearly anyone we feel who knows him. But I don’t want to get into any specifics right now. Not only the general public watches this but perhaps even the person we’re looking for watches the news, so I’ll be a little careful.”
Ramsey says Liczbinski’s widow, Michelle, and family members finally had a chance late Monday to visit the shrine erected at the site where her husband fell:
“Well, the support was there and they certainly appreciate it. And they had a chance to speak briefly to the people who came to the sergeant’s aid after he was shot, and that was a pretty emotional thing."
Ramsey says that May 6th would have been Liczbinski’s 40th birthday. Instead, there is mourning for the loss of a spouse and devoted father of three.
KYW report that suspect Eric Floyd fled from a halfway house in Berks County, Pa. His last known address was the 600 block of Clearfield Street in Philadelphia.
Late Monday morning, a tip led police to an area of northern New Jersey (right), where police stopped and searched trains and train yards along the northeast corridor in the Newark and Elizabeth, NJ area. Trains in and out of New York City were delayed by about an hour due to the police activity.
Also on Monday morning, the labor union that represents police in Philadelphia announced that it was offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to Floyd's arrest. The Citizens Crime Commission offered its own reward of $37,000. By Monday afternoon the combined reward total was over $100,000.
Anyone with information can make a confidential tip by calling 215-686-TIPS. Police were reminding the public not to approach or try to apprehend any possible suspect. Floyd is considered armed and extremely dangerous.
After a manhunt late Saturday night into Sunday, Philadelphia police made one arrest in connection with the Saturday morning shooting death of Sgt. Stephen Liczbinski.
Deputy commissioner William Blackburn says 38-year-old Levon Warner (right) has been charged with murder, robbery, conspiracy, and related offenses.
Another suspect, 33-year-old Howard Cain, was shot and killed by police shortly after the shooting of Liczbinski on Saturday.
From the vehicles and an alley near one of the shooting scenes, they also found other weapons, Muslim clothing, and $38,000.
