PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A man will spend 16 to 32 years in prison for shooting a man during a 2021 robbery in West Philadelphia and leaving the victim blind.
The incident happened on June 14, 2021, near 51st Street and Girard Avenue. According to police, the victim, a 40-year-old electrician, left a barber shop and was approached by James Reson.
Surveillance video shows the men talking back and forth, then Reson pulls a gun from his waistband and shoots the victim once in the head.
"The bullet enters the complainant's right temple. It shatters his right eye socket. … It goes and travels through his left eye socket. It severely, severely damages his left eye, and then actually exits," said Rebeca Steck with the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office.
She said the victim managed to run and hide despite not being able to see, eventually collapsing in a doorway — but Reson went after him.
"[Reson] tries to shoot him one more time as the complainant is pushing back and actually shoots the fingertip off of the complainant's hand," said Steck. "And then the defendant goes through the complainant's pockets, steals his wallet and approximately $300."
Steck said the victim had never encountered Reson before.
Footage also shows Reson pointing a gun toward others nearby. Police said he then barricaded himself inside a home that was under construction but was later arrested.
The gun used in the crime was not recovered.
A jury convicted 43-year-old Reson of attempted murder, aggravated assault and aggravated assault on a police officer. He was sentenced to 16 to 32 years behind bars.
