Shane Pryor: Teen prison escapee suspected in 2020 murder of Tanya Harris apprehended after 5-day manhunt
Warning: This article contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some, readers’ discretion advised.
PHILADELPHIA, UNITED STATES: The 17-year-old escaped prisoner, Shane Pryor, was captured by US Marshals and taken into custody on Sunday night in Philadelphia, concluding a five-day pursuit.
The incident unfolded after Pryor managed to escape from the custody of the juvenile justice services center, as officials had previously stated, before noon on Wednesday.
Pryor is currently awaiting trial for the murder of Tanya Harris, and he, along with a co-defendant, has been in custody since 2020.
Additional details regarding the manhunt that ensued after his escape from officials have been disclosed as a result of the investigation.
US Marshals capture escaped inmate Shane Pryor
According to CBS, officials announced just after 6.30 pm on Sunday that Pryor had been apprehended at 3rd Street and Roosevelt Boulevard, situated between Philadelphia's Feltonville and Olney neighborhoods.
The official Twitter page of the US Marshals Service Philadelphia shared photos of the captured escapee.
At 6:30pm, @USMS_Philly and @PhillyPolice captured escapee Shane Pryor. Investigators were conducting surveillance in an area Pryor was known to frequent when Pryor was observed boarding a Septa bus. @USMS_Philly pulled the bus over and Pryor was arrested without incident. pic.twitter.com/wxpxJd2XTN
— U.S. Marshals Service Philadelphia (@USMS_Philly) January 29, 2024
Law enforcement halted a bus to effect the arrest on Sunday evening, as mentioned by officials. Deputy Rob Clark remarked, "We did a thorough pat down, like I said, but there was no cockiness, but I think he knew the jig was up,"
Clark revealed that Pryor had a handcuff key in his possession at the time of arrest, stating, "Put the key in, turn and opens the restraints, so it's definitely a piece of equipment that's of interest to us"
On the other hand, Pryor's attorney expressed a sense of calm after learning about her client's apprehension.
She shared on her Twitter page, saying, "I'm glad he was taken into custody and is safe and now the focus can return to defending him in court,"
Paul DiMaio, Pryor’s attorney, released this statement: “I'm glad he was taken into custody and is safe and now the focus can return to defending him in court.”@CBSPhiladelphia
— Nikki DeMentri (@nikkidementri) January 29, 2024
How did Shane Pryor escape?
According to the police, Shane Pryor was initially taken to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) due to a hand injury, escorted by staff.
However, upon arrival, Philadelphia Police reported that Pryor fled while exiting the car outside the CHOP emergency department.
Deputy Rob Clark mentioned that the escorting staff pursued the teenager on foot, but despite being almost within arm's reach, they couldn't catch up to him.
Surveillance footage released by the US Marshals Service showed Pryor inside the Hub for Clinical Collaboration.
Investigators revealed that the escaped prisoner requested to use a phone, but an employee denied him. Subsequently, he left the building.
Before noon, the US Marshals Service stated that Pryor used a phone to call co-defendant, 18-year-old Michael Diggs after a woman on the street lent him her phone.
He allegedly informed the woman that he had been in a fight and needed to make a call.
Around 12.30 pm, Diggs picked up Pryor on the 3500 block of Civic Boulevard and they drove away in a cream-colored Ford.
Less than an hour later, the two were observed at the corner of Mascher Street and Godfrey Avenue, as per the US Marshals Service.
Surveillance footage from the US Marshals released on Friday displayed Pryor inside a corner store at that intersection, in different clothes than when he escaped.
The US Marshals Service noted that the two left the area around 2 pm. Later in the evening, Philadelphia Police halted the cream-colored Ford on East Logan Street and detained Diggs for questioning.
The US Marshals reported that Pryor was not in the car. Subsequently, Diggs faced criminal charges for aiding Pryor's escape. Pryor was spotted at a Target on Bustleton Avenue in Northeast Philadelphia on Friday, as mentioned by Deputy Rob Clark.
Shane Pryor faces charges in the murder of Tanya Harris
Pryor and a co-defendant have been held in custody since 2020, facing charges related to a murder in the Holmesburg section of Northeast Philadelphia.
Investigators believe that on the night of October 10, 2020, Pryor shot Tanya Harris in the head after he and another male attempted to solicit sex from her.
According to an affidavit of probable cause in the case, Harris' body was discovered in an alcove in the alley behind a business on Torresdale Avenue near Shelmire Street after 10 pm that night.
Detectives found surveillance footage from a nearby business, which showed Harris with a boy in a Gap-branded hoodie around 6 pm.
Approximately 50 minutes later, she was seen on video with two boys in an alcove behind the business on Torresdale Avenue — the same location where her body was eventually found.
About 10 minutes after that, the two boys were observed running from the area and then returning later, seemingly to search it.
Pryor was identified as the boy in the Gap hoodie. Five days later, he was stopped in the neighborhood, provided police officers with a fake name, and attempted to flee.
Investigators obtained permission from Pryor's mother to speak with him. Pryor admitted to soliciting sex from Harris but claimed that another man, aged between 25-30 and dressed all in black, was the one who shot her. Pryor stated he was not aware of the man's name.
Subsequently, investigators determined that the man seen with Pryor on surveillance footage was about 14 or 15 years old, not an adult.
