In the early morning hours of July 13, 2018, what began as a birthday celebration ended in a shocking act of violence that claimed the life of 43-year-old Eric Lawson. A Black male from Philadelphia, Lawson had been at the SA Cafe Lounge on Garret Road in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, celebrating his 43rd birthday with friends and family. The night took a tragic turn when he departed from the establishment at approximately 2 a.m.
As Lawson sat in his 2012 Bentley, parked at the corner of
Ludlow Street and Copley Road, an unknown assailant approached the vehicle. Without warning, the gunman opened fire, discharging a reported 14 rounds into the car at point-blank range. The barrage of bullets struck Lawson multiple times. Despite the efforts of first responders who rushed him to a nearby hospital, his injuries proved to be fatal.
Investigators with the Upper Darby Police Department were quick to surmise that the shooting was not a random act of violence but a targeted execution. This belief was bolstered by the fact that a significant sum of money, $3,200, was found on Lawson's person, yet nothing was taken from him or his vehicle. The brazen nature of the attack suggested a motive beyond simple robbery. Police Superintendent Michael Chitwood revealed that earlier in the evening, there had been a report of a man dressed entirely in black and armed with a gun in the vicinity, leading to the theory that the shooter had been lying in wait for Lawson to emerge from the bar.
Despite the presence of surveillance cameras in the area that captured the tragic event, the identity of the gunman has remained a mystery. To date, no arrests have been made in connection with the murder of Eric Lawson, and no suspects have been publicly identified. The case remains an open and active investigation, a painful and unresolved chapter for a family who lost a loved one on a night that should have been filled with joy and celebration. The Upper Darby Police Department continues to appeal to the public for any information that might lead to a breakthrough in the case.
