Two women were arrested this week in connection with the killing of a woman outside an LGBT party last month.
Police arrested Sharonda Cheeves, 23, and Jesslyn Williams, 22, on Oct. 19. Cheeves was picked up at her house in the 800 block of Foulkrod Street and Williams, of the 7300 block of Buist Avenue, turned herself in to police.
As of press time, both were still in police custody.
Cheeves and Williams allegedly drove a car repeatedly into a crowd outside Club Motivation in North Philadelphia in the early morning of Sept. 4. Alisha Moore, 27, was killed in the melee.
Club Motivation, also known as The Breakfast Club, frequently hosts LGBT ballroom events, and the club was in the midst of such a party when the incident occurred.
Police spokesperson Lt. Ray Evers said Cheeves and Williams took turns driving the car as they circled the block around the club, at Eighth and Dauphin streets. Cheeves allegedly drove Williams home before returning to the club and driving into the crowd again, killing Moore.
Cheeves was charged with murder, vehicular homicide, driving under the influence, leaving the scene, reckless endangerment, seven counts of aggravated assault and related charges. Williams was charged with three counts of aggravated assault, simple assault, leaving the scene, driving under the influence and related offenses.
Cheeves had to be extricated from the car after the incident and both women were detained shortly afterward, but Evers said arrest warrants weren’t issued immediately because investigators needed to sort out which woman was driving at which time.
Evers could not comment on whether the two women knew the victim.
Witnesses at the scene said Cheeves and Williams were prevented from entering the club because they were intoxicated and carrying alcohol, and returned a short time later in the car.
Neither woman has a prior arrest record.
Jen Colletta can be reached at [email protected].