5 teenagers charged with armed kidnapping of United States representative Scanlon.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) – Five teens were charged Thursday after a vehicle stolen at gunpoint in Philadelphia from U.S. Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon was found in neighboring Delaware, police said.
Scanlon’s blue Acura MDX was located Wednesday night in Newark, Delaware, about 45 miles (74 kilometers) from Philadelphia, Delaware State Police said. All five were detained while trying to flee, police said.
Scanlon, a Democrat, was walking to her parked vehicle after a meeting at the city’s FDR park shortly before 3 p.m. Wednesday when two gunmen demanded her keys, police said. She handed them over, and one drove off while the other followed in a dark sport utility vehicle, police said.
Scanlon was physically unharmed, said his spokeswoman, Lauren Cox. Various personal and work items were also taken with the vehicle, police said.
The investigation determined that a 19-year-old man was involved in the armed carjacking in Philadelphia, police said. It was turned over to the FBI.
A 14-year-old woman and three men, 13, 15 and 16, were each charged with receiving stolen property. The 15-year-old was also charged with resisting arrest and engaging in criminal mischief. Their names were not released because they are minors.
All the minors were turned over to their parents or guardians, while the 15-year-old was taken to a detention center, police said.
All of the suspects are from Wilmington, Delaware.
Scanlon, whose district includes parts of South Philadelphia and neighboring Delaware County, was among elected officials who met to discuss constituents’ concerns about ongoing development plans for the park, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported.
Scanlon’s office said it expressed its gratitude to city police for their quick response and to its local police department and Sergeant at Arms in Washington for working with the Philadelphia police “to ensure their continued safety.”
Mayor Jim Kenney said he was “shocked to learn of this violent crime” against the congresswoman, whom he described as his friend and colleague.
“My thoughts are with her during what I am sure is a traumatic time,” he said in a Twitter post.
“Everyone deserves to feel safe in our city, and sadly, that hasn’t always been the case this year,” Kenney said. “It is heartbreaking and infuriating that criminals feel emboldened by committing such a reckless crime in the middle of the day in what should be a place of peace: one of our city’s parks.”

Eric is a professional news editor, writer, and blogger for the last 10 years. He is working with NewsGater as an off-beat news editor cum writer.