Police are investigating after a young foster mom was found dead Thursday night inside her home on the 4100 block of Levick Street in Tacony.
Officers found Lexus Jawanda Brice, 25, lying on the floor of her second-floor bedroom at around 7 p.m. with a gunshot wound to the right side of her neck, police said. Medical personnel pronounced her dead at the scene.
Brice’s mother, who also lives at the house, called 911 after arriving home and finding the back door open, Capt. John Walker, of the 15th Police District, said. She had not heard from her daughter throughout the day, which was unusual, he added.
Authorities believe she died between 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., hours before her body was discovered, Homicide Capt. Jason Smith told reporters on Friday.
Smith said police recovered a 9mm shell casing, two 9mm magazines and two gun boxes. Brice legally owned two 9mm guns, both of which are missing, he added.
Walker said there were obvious signs of struggle in the bedroom, which could point to a domestic dispute. However, detectives have not ruled out anything, including a home invasion robbery, Smith said.
Investigators are in the process reviewing video recovered from the area.
Brice was the foster mother of a 13-year-old, 6-year-old and three-month old, according to Smith. They were staying with a babysitter at the time Brice’s body was found, Walker said.
All are now in the custody of the Department of Human Services, according to police.
Smith said Brice was a bus driver for the Cheltenham Township School District and a home healthcare worker.
Police have not released a description of the suspect. ••
