Authorities are searching for a man who allegedly killed a woman and raped her co-worker Monday, Nov. 2, inside an East Mount Airy hair salon.
Prosecutors say 33-year-old Jamal Pistoria entered the salon, on the 6300 block of Stenton Avenue, at around 2 p.m. and immediately pulled out a handgun. One of the victims was near the front of the shop, and he forced her into a back room, where two of her fellow employees were already located, according to investigators.
He locked the door and ordered one of the women to perform a sexual act on him at gunpoint, Assistant District Attorney Jeff Hojnowski told reporters Wednesday. During the assault, he allegedly pistol-whipped and beat the women.
Then, seemingly out of nowhere, he shot Bellaniri Ofelia Hernandez-Camil, a 34-year-old mother of two, in the head, law enforcement officials said. She died a short time later. Hojnowski said Hernandez-Camil was not fighting back or engaging with Pistoria “at all whatsoever.”
“He just, for whatever reason, decides to shoot her,” Hojnowski added.
About six minutes into the attack, the surviving victims realized that the suspect had run out of bullets or could no longer fire his gun, authorities said. That’s when they began fighting back, forcing Pistoria to sprint out of the room, according to the DA’s Office.
Pistoria, on his way out, tried to take the till from the register, officials said; however, it dropped to the ground and he allegedly stooped down to steal some cash. Detectives later recovered video of him purchasing a soda at a nearby convenience store shortly after the killing, prosecutors said.
Hojnowski added that investigators believe that the attack was random and have no evidence that Pistoria had any prior contact with the salon or its employees.
Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to contact the PPD’s Homicide Unit at 215-686-3334/3335 or call or text the police tip line at 215-686-TIPS (8477). Information can be shared anonymously.
Detectives described Pistoria as a 5-foot, 6-inch man weighing about 150 pounds and said he may be on or around the 1500 block of E. Tulpehocken Street in West Oak Lane.
Hojnowski advised residents not to approach Pistoria and told the press that he should be “considered armed and extremely dangerous.”
“We know what he’s capable of, and we don’t want him hurting anyone else,” he added.
The DA’s Office stated that Pistoria will be charged with murder, rape, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, attempted murder, aggravated assault, burglary, robbery, sexual assault and other crimes.
Court records show that Pistoria received a sentence of two to four years in prison in 2017 after pleading guilty to criminal trespassing, stemming from an incident in Pottstown. He has two prior convictions, both for possession of marijuana, dating back to 2013.
MORE: Police offer $5,000 reward in 2019 killing of Philadelphia man stranded with flat tire
