Lansdowne man faces firearms charges after a fracas in a convenience store parking lot

Lansdowne resident Sonney William Hill, 49, faces multiple charges from the March 15 incident at a Wawa located at 67 N. Lansdowne Ave. in the borough for a report of a man with a gun. He was described as Black and wearing a hoodie with a rainbow design, said an affidavit of probable cause. 

The suspect argued with another man, then pulled out a gun, according to an affidavit of probable cause. All the convenience store employees retreated to the back of the store at that point, although customers were still inside the store, the affidavit stated.

When officers arrived, some of the customers pointed out a man who appeared distressed. The victim said he’d argued with another man who pulled a gun on him before getting into a car and driving away. The victim said he’d argued with the same man before. 

Officers asked the store manager for the videotape of the event, which showed the dispute in the parking lot with the victim and the other man, who was later identified as Hill, according to court records. 

The video showed Hill getting into a vehicle driven by another man. He then exits the car, walks across the parking lot, yells at the victim, and chases him, according to police. The victim was seen throwing two plastic water bottles at Hill, the affidavit said. Hill chases the victim inside the store vestibule, where the victim tries to hold the door shut, police said.

Hill opened the door with his right hand and allegedly pointed the handgun with his left directly at the victim, the affidavit said. The victim retreated toward the rear of the store.

Hill then “returns the handgun to his waistband, verbally taunted (the victim), smiling, and leaves the vestibule,” the affidavit stated. 

Hill then went back to the vehicle, which drove off “rapidly eastbound the wrong way on East Stratford Avenue,” a one-way street, the affidavit said.

Hill was charged with misdemeanor simple assault; felony possession of a firearm prohibited; felony firearms not to be carried without a license; two counts of misdemeanor recklessly endangering another person; felony terroristic threats causing serious public inconvenience, and misdemeanor possession of a weapon, according to court records.

District Court Justice W. Keith Williams set bail on March 20 for 10 percent of $25,000, which Hill was unable to post. He was remanded to the Delaware County prison, court records stated.

All defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This report was based on court records.