Facebook Mystery: Man Killed After Ex-Girlfriend Posts Ominous Message
Police do not yet know if the Facebook post and Corey White's death are related.
Aug. 16, 2011— -- A Philadelphia man whose ex-girlfriend allegedly used Facebook to put out a $1,000 contract on him has been shot and killed, although the woman and a man who answered her post are both in jail.
Corey White was shot once in the chest Monday evening after reportedly having an argument with at least one suspect later seen fleeing in a brown vehicle, Philadelphia police spokewoman Tanya Little said.
ABC News affiliate WPVI reported the car had been stolen from the 69th Street Transportation Center during the day and later found on fire in Yeadon, Pa.
Earlier this year White's ex-girlfriend, 20-year-old London Eley, who is also the mother of his child, posted on Facebook, "I will pay somebody a stack to kill my baby father." Police said a "stack" refers to $1,000.
Timothy Bynum allegedly responded, "Say no more ... what he look like ... where he be at ... need that stack 1st," according to police.
Eley's attorney told ABCNews.com it was either White, or one of his relatives, who saw the post on Facebook and called police.
Man Shot Dead After Being Targeted on Facebook
Both Eley, 20, of Philadelphia, and Bynum, 18, of Darby, Pa., have been in custody since mid-June in Philadelphia County jail. Eley is being held on solicitation to commit murder and terroristic threat charges. Bynum was arrested on four charges, including attempted murder.
On Monday -- just hours before the shooting -- a judge reduced bail for Eley from $50,000 to $35,000 and Bynum's bail was reduced from $75,000 to $50,000, although both remain in jail.
Gerald Stein, Eley's attorney, told ABCNews.com that his client had nothing to do with White's death.
"I know where my client is and therefore I know where she wasn't," said Stein, explaining Eley and Bynum were in jail when the shooting occurred.
"I recognize there is a coincidence in timing between the hearing yesterday and the death of Mr. White, but at this time that's all it is. And I don't think premature conclusions are warranted for my client or the codefendant," Stein said.
Bynum's lawyer, Lopez Thompson, told the Associated Press today that Bynum meant no harm when he responded to the Facebook message and that his family is devastated about White's death.
