Police ID suspect, announce charges in death of man found in burning car

OLNEY (WPVI) -- Philadelphia police have announced charges against a suspect in the death of man found in burning car in the city's Olney section.

Homicide detectives apparently didn't have to look very far for a suspect. 21-year-old Antonio Rosario from 4600 block of Rising Sun Avenue is apparently the owner of the vehicle.

Rosario is in police custody, facing homicide and related charges.

Witnesses say 25-year-old Rafael Rivera was sitting in the passenger seat of a car on the 400 block of Roselyn Street Wednesday afternoon when Rosario shot him in the head.

The car then sped off.

Three and a half hours later, the dark colored Mitsubishi was found burning in an alley behind the 6100 block of Lawrence Street.

Firefighters quickly knocked down the flames but made a gruesome discovery.

Rafael Rivera was pronounced dead at the scene. Police say he had suffered multiple gunshot wounds.

Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small explains, "Once the fire was extinguished they discovered that there was a dead body in the front passenger seat of the vehicle.

Rivera's family had the grim task of identifying him at the morgue Thursday.

The family says he had been out of jail on probation and was making good progress toward rebuilding his life.

Star Watson, Rivera's sister, says, "He was a good guy. He just had a baby. The baby's not even 2-months-old yet."

Police sources say Rosario had his girlfriend report that the car was stolen.

As for a motive, police say the two men got into an argument, which ended in murder.