Co-Worker Charged in Bus Stop Shooting
Kim Jones, left; Randoph Sanders’ mug shot, right.
[Update] Police Captain James Clark just spoke at a press conference about the charges. He said Sanders had taken approximately $40,000 from the agency — and that in a bid to throw investigators off track, Sanders even called Jones’ phone after he killed her to see if she was OK.
Sanders is being charged with murder (see the docket sheet here) along with several firearms charges. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for February 18th. Sanders’ mug shot is above.
#NOW: Police outlining arrest in the murder of Kim Jones. 36yr old Randolf Sanders gives full confession @CBSPhilly pic.twitter.com/zqGkjjnXie
— Steve Patterson (@PattersonNBC) February 2, 2015
Just in: Phila PD says homicide detectives scoured thru 100+ hours of surveillance video to track down suspected murderer of Kim Jones @6abc
— Kenneth Moton (@KennethMoton) February 2, 2015
Phila PD: Social worker murder suspect seen walking thru Temple's campus after "assassination", getting on subway, walking to vehicle @6abc
— Kenneth Moton (@KennethMoton) February 2, 2015
Phila PD: Image of suspect's vehicle, 2007 silver GMC Yukon, led detectives to victim's coworker Randolph Sanders who had same vehicle @6abc
— Kenneth Moton (@KennethMoton) February 2, 2015
Chilling: Kim Jones' son tells @wbender99 he recalls shaking hands with her accused killer at her funeral. Follow @PhillyDailyNews
— David Lee Preston (@DavidLeePreston) February 2, 2015
Kim Jones's Funeral Costs http://t.co/ysMnDMNrTx via @gofundme #kimjones #philly #philadelphia @6abc
— Susan (@jerseywoogirl) February 2, 2015
[Original] Kim Jones’ killing in broad daylight at a North Philly bus stop last month shocked the community, but it was anything but random. Authorities now say she was targeted by a co-worker worried that she was about to report his malfeasance.
“Police say that the person in custody is co-worker, Randolph Sanders,” Fox 29 reports. “According to sources, Jones hired Sanders in 2012–they worked together at Turning Points for Children — an organization that provides family services. Sources say Sanders confessed his motive to police, saying he thought he was about to be fired because Jones found out he was allegedly misappropriating funds at Turning Point.”
“The shooting happened around 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, January 13th at 12th and Jefferson Streets in North Philadelphia,” 6ABC adds. “Police say Jones was waiting for the Route 23 SEPTA bus. She had headphones in her ears and was listening gospel music at the time. That’s when, according to investigators, Sanders, dressed in a disguise, quietly walked up from behind and shot her in the back of the head.”
Chillingly, Sanders was one of Jones’ co-workers quoted as grieving her death in the flurry of stories that followed the murder.
“We’re all just stunned, just stunned, just stunned,” he told 6ABC on January 14th.
The news sent shock waves through Turning Points. “Through this entire investigation we worked closely with the Philadelphia Police Department and are relieved that they have found her killer,” CEO Mike Vogel said in a statement. “but devastated by the discovery.”
