Man shoots neighbor, barricades himself in home in Upper Darby

Annie McCormick Image
Monday, March 16, 2015
VIDEO: Upper Darby shooting victim talks about ordeal
The man was allegedly shot by his neighbor in Upper Darby.

UPPER DARBY, Pa. (WPVI) -- SWAT teams swarmed a neighborhood in Upper Darby, Delaware County after police say a man shot his neighbor then barricaded himself inside his home.



The victim, James Spark, is resting at his mother's home after the shooting on Sunday night.



"He pulled a gun, shot four times. I just stood still," Spark said.



Spark said he went to check on his next door neighbor, who was the victim of a burglary earlier in the day.



Spark said his neighbor, William Dean, blamed him for the crime and opened fire with what looked like a .22 caliber gun.



"I was like 'Put the gun away, it doesn't have to be like that,' and he shot one more time, shot me in arm. If I didn't turn, he would have shot me the chest," Spark said.



It was around 11 p.m. when the SWAT team, helicopters and dogs were called in after police realized Dean had barricaded himself inside.



Neighbors were evacuated and PECO shut off the power since police believed Dean had surveillance cameras around his home.



"The SWAT team was able to make a forced entry, use some flash bangs and in the second floor bedroom they found the shooter," said Superintendent Michael Chitwood of the Upper Darby Police Department.



By early morning the neighborhood was safe, Dean was in custody and two pellet guns, one resembling a .22 caliber, were found inside.



Spark was treated at the hospital and released.



"I'm glad I turned but God was definitely there, he certainly was. I'm glad to be alive," said Spark.



Upper Darby Police say Dean faces a list of charges including aggravated assault. Officers also say he has had run-ins with police in the past.



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