Delaware County Times | By Rose Quinn
CHESTER — For the third time in a dozen years, a city family is grieving a loved one lost to violence.
Michael Strand was washing a car in the 400 block of Rose Street when he was shot multiple times and killed shortly after 11:30 a.m. Thursday, authorities said. Sources said Strand, who according to online court records turned 26 on July 10, was struck as many as 11 times — multiple times in the back.
“It was like they just came on him,” one source said.
His father, Marshall Strand, was fatally stabbed in 2000, and a brother, John “White Pork” Strand, was shot to death in August 2007.
Though an official cause and manner of death is pending a ruling by the Delaware County Medical Examiner’s office, city and county homicide detectives were continuing an investigation into Michael Strand’s death Thursday night. As of 7 p.m., they had no suspects and no motive.
Earlier in the day, numerical markers commonly used by police to track spent shell casings dotted the sprawling crime scene, which Police Capt. Anita Amaro said had been used as a makeshift car wash. The evidence count appeared to have stopped at marker 14.
Strand was not a resident of Rose Street. He had previous addresses in the 400 block of East 10th Street and the 900 block of Walnut Street, both within blocks of the shooting, according to sources.
According to online court records, Strand applied for county probation in May. Authorities said he was released from jail last month after serving time for DUI, drug and other offenses.
Michael Strand was one of 10 children of Marshall Strand. The patriarch was fatally stabbed in 2000 at the age of 49.
Marshall Strand’s son, John Strand, was 13 when he testified about events leading up to his father’s death at a preliminary hearing for a Chester man who was charged in the murder but was later acquitted.
In 2001, Common Pleas Judge Frank T. Hazel found that Angelo Moore acted in self-defense when he fatally stabbed Strand after Strand came at Moore with a crowbar.
By the age of 19, John “White Pork” Strand was dead. The father of one was gunned down Aug. 7, 2007, at Green and McIlvain streets in Chester, outside the Spanish-American Club.
Edgardo Gutierrez Jr., who was listed as one of the Chester Police Department’s “Most Wanted” fugitives before he was captured in October 2008 on homicide charges in John Strand’s death, is incarcerated at SCI Somerset, according to online records.
An attorney who had represented Michael Strand was shocked to hear of his death.
“I am sad and disappointed,” Enrique N. Latoisen said late Thursday. “He was a really nice guy, a good father.”
Latoisen knew Strand as a “Crosby Square guy.” That’s where he would meet his client.
Latoisen said he represented Strand after a series of legal snafus allowed Strand to remain free when he was supposed to be serving time for a drug delivery conviction. While he was free, Strand racked up additional charges, including DUI and misdemeanor marijuana possession.
Latoisen doesn’t know when Strand was released, but he said he last saw him two or three weeks ago at the courthouse. He believes Strand was coming from a meeting with probation officers.
“He was staying away from the nonsense,” Latoisen said.
Latoisen said Strand wanted his help to get his driver’s license back.
“I thought he was going to be OK,” Latoisen said. “He got himself in trouble with drugs, but he wasn’t a thug … He was a good dude.”
Latoisen said he thought highly enough of Michael Strand that when they met to discuss his case, he often brought his wife along.
“I had no problem taking my wife,” Latoisen said.
Anyone with information is asked to call city Detective Joseph McFate at 610-447-8412 or county Detective Edward Kazlo at 610-891-4710 or 911.
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