A man wanted in connection to the New Year’s Day death of a Frankford man is now in custody.
Christopher Johnson, 30, was arrested Feb. 7, according to court documents. He had been wanted in connection with the fatal shooting of 47-year-old Gerard “Irish” Markert. Police also are seeking another man.
Markert was shot several times in the back and neck at about 1:30 a.m. on Jan. 1 on the 4100 block of Orchard St., where he lived, police said. He died while being taken to Temple University Hospital, police said.
Markert’s death is connected to an auto accident that had occurred at Womrath Street and Frankford Avenue shortly before the shooting, police said.
On the morning Markert died, a second-cousin was involved in a traffic accident, said the victim’s sister, Eileen Horn. She said she learned that the occupants of the other car told the relative they wanted $1,000 when the cousin tried to exchange information after the accident.
She said the relative drove away, but the other men followed him to the 4100 block of Orchard St. and tried to pull him out of his car. Markert, who lived on that block, saw that and raced to his relative’s aid. Horn said punches were thrown, but the fight broke up.
She said the other men drove around the neighborhood and then spotted Markert on another relative’s front step. One of them ran up to him, shot him three times and then shot him again after he fell, she said. ••
