Philadelphia Policeman Killed by Gun Traced Back to SC

United States Attorney W. Walter Wilkins, III, stated that Jason Allen Mack, age 29, of Dalzell, South Carolina, was sentenced to 36 months imprisonment today by United States District Judge Cameron M. Currie on federal firearms charges. Mack pled guilty last January to illegally possessing two firearms, and making a false statement to a firearms dealer to buy them.

Mack admitted buying a number of guns from pawn shops in South Carolina and selling them to Stephen Lashley, who in turned transported them to Philadelphia. Lashley faces federal charges in Pennsylvania for illegally transporting firearms across state lines and the possession of firearms by a convicted felon.

One of the guns purchased by Mack in Lancaster, South Carolina, and then sold to Lashley, was used to kill Philadelphia policeman Patrick McDonald last September. Federal agents and Philadelphia police are investigating the shooting case to determine how the alleged shooter, Daniel Giddings, obtained the weapon. Giddings was shot and killed by Philadelphia police officers responding to the McDonald shooting.

Mack is an admitted drug user, and is prohibited by federal law from possessing or purchasing firearms.

The case in South Carolina was investigated by agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), engaged in a joint federal, state and local Project CeaseFire initiative, which aggressively prosecutes firearm cases. Assistant United States Attorney, Robert C. Jendron, Jr., of the Columbia office was assigned to prosecute the case.