Credit: Bucks County District Attorney’s Office
A Philadelphia man has been charged in connection with a March shooting at a Bristol Township park.
Taariq Alfons Norris, 24, was arraigned Thursday at 11:45 a.m. before Senior District Judge Charles Baum on charges of first-degree attempted murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, aggravated assault, possession of a firearm while prohibited, firearms not to be carried without a license, and possession of an instrument of crime.
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According to police, Norris and another man parked a blue Chevrolet Malibu on Ashby Avenue about two blocks away from the location of the shooting, Marie Lowe Recreation Parkoff Schumacher Drive. Norris and the other man walked to the area near the basketball courts and opened fire from different directions at a man who was standing beside his white Chrysler around 7 p.m. The man with Norris, who is not identified in court papers, pulled out an AK-47-style gun while Norris carried a handgun.
As the unidentified shooter kicked off shots, Norris ran up to the victim and pointed his handgun toward the back of his head. He fired multiple times, police said.
The victim raised a 9mm handgun in self-defense and Norris then dropped to the ground as the injured victim ran away from the park, police said.
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The unidentified shooter also fled the scene and disappeared in the tree line of Schumacher Drive, police said.
Norris laid on the ground until bystanders arrived and drove him to Lower Bucks Hospital. He was treated and survived, policed said.
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The victim was transported to Lower Bucks Hospital and then to Temple University Hospital for treatment of multiple gunshot wounds to the abdomen and butt. He underwent surgery and remained in the hospital for more than a week, according to court papers.
The entire shooting was picked up by multiple surveillance cameras in the area, including ones owned by the township police department.
Officers were called to the shooting and found the rear window of the Chrysler shattered and a bullet hole in the trunk. They also located fired shell casings and blood.
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The blood samples were tested and matched Norris’ DNA, police said.
Norris has a prior robbery conviction and is not allowed to possess a firearm, police said.
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A motive for the shooting was not laid out in court papers. At the time it happened, police said a dispute was involved.
Norris was sent to the Bucks County Correctional Facility on 10 percent of $1 million bail.
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Anyone with information on the second shooter has been asked to contact Bristol Township Police at 215-785-4040, or Bucks County Detectives at 215-348-6354.
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Editor’s Note: All individuals arrested or charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty. The story was compiled using information from police and public court documents.
