Temple student killed in possible drug-related shooting; police say suspected shooter is another student
A Temple University student was shot and killed and another is in custody after what police suspect is a drug-related shooting.
Philadelphia police said the shooting happened after 11 p.m. Thursday on the 1500 block of North Carlisle Street, near the Temple Nest off-campus apartments.
When police arrived on the scene, they found a 20-year-old man in the street between two parked cars. He had been shot in the chest and was unresponsive, Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small said at the scene.
Temple University identified the victim as Chase Myles, an undergraduate student in the Klein College of Media and Communication.
In a letter to the university community, President John Fry said, "The loss of any life is a tragedy, but that is especially true when the loss is that of a bright and engaged student like Chase. A native of Bowie, Maryland, Chase was well-known to his peers at Klein and was respected by faculty and staff alike."
Police rushed Myles to Temple University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 11:15 p.m.
Myles was involved in a fight with a 23-year-old, Small said. According to the university, Myles and the suspected shooter were known to one another and planned to meet Thursday night.
The 23-year-old was later identified as Nicholas Iaderosa from North Philadelphia. He was arrested and will be charged with murder and other related offenses, police said in a release on Friday.
"We don't know if it was a robbery or some other altercation, but we believe it may have been narcotics-related because we have a clear green bag that appears to be filled with marijuana on the scene. ... We found the bag right next to his body, and in the bag, there is a handgun," Small said.
Fry said Iaderosa is also a Temple student.
"I am heartbroken by the senseless loss of such a young life. This tragedy is difficult to comprehend, and my thoughts and prayers are with all who are grieving," Fry said.
"A suspected shooter, who is also a Temple student, is in custody. We will continue to support the PPD, as they take the lead on the investigation moving forward," Fry continued. "A loss like this is deeply painful for the Temple community, and we recognize the impact our student's loss of life will have on their family, friends, and all who knew them."
Small said Iaderosa stayed on the scene and cooperated with police, who took his gun.
Myles was with another man at the time of the shooting, who is being interviewed as a witness, Small said.
There were two spent shell casings on the scene, likely due to the shooter firing two shots.
Police are reviewing surveillance cameras in the area to find video that may serve as evidence in the shooting investigation. Students in the area also heard the gunshots, according to Small.
Fry encouraged students to visit Tuttleman Counseling Services and employees to make use of the Employee Assistance Program.
The university said the victim, Myles, was a valued member of the school community and the school is planning to honor him sometime soon.
Temple students react, share concerns about crime in the area
Students shared their concerns with CBS Philadelphia on Friday about crime in that area and said more needs to be done to protect students off campus.
"Pretty scary," said Mitchell Elliott, a sophomore at Temple.
Elliot lives just steps away from where the shooting happened near the Temple Nest Apartments. He was inside his apartment when he heard the gunshots.
"Out of nowhere it sounded like it was right next to your face," he said. "You just hear a couple of gunshots."
"To me at least, it was more scary because it was between two students," said Reyna Doherty, a sophomore at Temple. "I don't know why that's even happening. I don't know what the situation was exactly, but it shouldn't be happening."
Students said the shooting is just another reminder to be cautious but they also believe more needs to be done to protect students off campus.
"Stuff right off campus is definitely a little questionable sometimes, so I think upping some security there and maybe some more cameras, some more audio would help for sure," said Elliott.
"I definitely think there could be more patrolling, but at the same time, I definitely think Temple tries their best," said student Abelina Gonzalez. "And there is only so much they can do because it's such a big community. It's difficult to try to be on every block at every moment of the time."
