Juvies who are accused of attempted homicide waive a hearing

Two teenagers charged as adults with attempted murder and related offenses for allegedly shooting another person in September have waived their preliminary hearings in exchange for potentially having their cases transferred to juvenile court.

Marvin Edwards, Darby, and Semaj Chandler, Philadelphia, both 17, are also charged with aggravated assault, reckless endangerment, receiving stolen property, conspiracy and firearms offenses for the Sept. 5 shooting along the CSX railroad tracks in Darby.

Assistant District Attorney Rachel Sweeney said in two brief hearings before District Judge Lee Cullen Grimes on Thursday that both defendants entered into an outright waiver of all charges as a “good faith” offer for possible decertification, sending their cases back to juvenile court.

The commonwealth made no promises, noted Edwards' defense attorney Luke Mercurio, but the waiver was a “good step” in the process.

According to information previously provided by Darby Police:

A report of shots fired in the area of ​​North Fifth Street and Darby Terrace/Greenway Avenue came into the station around 10 a.m. thanks to surveillance technology called ShotSpotter, which notifies police of shots fired in real time, allowing for a quicker response.

Responding officers learned that three shots had been fired at a victim along railroad tracks in the area and that two black males had fled the scene toward North Third Street.

Police gathered in the area and saw two men matching the description running from North Third onto Darby Terrace. Officers chased the teens and took them into custody.

Police found a gun on a suspect that was believed to be stolen, Darby Police Chief Joe Gabe said at the time.

Edwards and Chandler, represented by William Weiss, were preliminarily arraigned by District Judge George B. Dawson, who set bail at $500,000. They have been in custody ever since.

The lawyers pointed out that the boys should be examined to determine their risk of reoffending and their suitability for supervision in the juvenile justice system.

Both are scheduled to have a formal hearing on Dec. 4 at the county courthouse in Media.

Daily Times reporter Pete Bannan contributed to this story.