A Municipal Court judge last week ordered arrest warrants issued for two people who authorities say were there when Wissinoming mechanic Michael Gleba was killed in April by a stray bullet.
Neither witness showed up to a preliminary hearing Wednesday, June 26, to testify in the case, even though a homicide detective and the District Attorney’s Office said they were served with subpoenas.
Shabazz Sweets, 19, of Hunting Park, and Eric Smith, 25, of Olney, are facing murder charges in Gleba’s killing. Both are being held without bail at the correctional facility on State Road and were not at the hearing.
Gleba, 56, of Bensalem, was working on a car outside his shop, Northeast Speedometer Services, April 11 on the 4800 block of Benner Street when he was apparently caught in a hail of bullets in broad daylight.
He was hit in the stomach, and police officers rushed him to Jefferson Torresdale Hospital, where he died a short time later.
Gleba’s killing left those in the neighborhood stunned. He grew up in Wissinoming and owned Northeast Speedometer for 17 years. A vigil and peace walk was held in late April, and a memorial was set up outside his shop.Â
At the June 26 hearing, the DA’s Office called Homicide Detective Frank Mullen, who said investigators have identified two witnesses to the shooting.
Their names were not released, but one did not seem willing to testify, and the other said he would come to court but did not show up, Mullen said.
Members of the Gleba family attended and told the Northeast Times that they urge anyone who wants to show support for Gleba to show up to future court dates. The next hearing is scheduled for July 30. ••
Jack Tomczuk can be reached at [email protected].
