Police ID man in beating of committeewoman, 87, and her son, 62

Philadelphia police investigate the scene at 5628 Catharine St. in West Philadelphia where an 87-year-old woman and her 62-year-old son were assaulted during a home invasion and robbery early Tuesday morning, July 31, 2012. ( ALEJANDRO A. ALVAREZ / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER )
Philadelphia police investigate the scene at 5628 Catharine St. in West Philadelphia where an 87-year-old woman and her 62-year-old son were assaulted during a home invasion and robbery early Tuesday morning, July 31, 2012. ( ALEJANDRO A. ALVAREZ / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER )
By Robert Moran, INQUIRER STAFF WRITER
Posted: August 01, 2012

Police have named the man who allegedly beat an 87-year-old Democratic committeewoman and her 62-year-old son early Tuesday in a West Philadelphia home invasion, police said.

Police identified the attacker as Jimmy Morrison, 41, and said he was still on the loose. His last known address was on the 4900 block of D Street in the city's Feltonville section.

Police said Morrison knocked on the door of the home on the 5600 block of Catharine Street about 3:10 a.m. and asked to use the bathroom.

The 62-year-old man let him in and Morrison pounced, police said. He found Yvonne Gaines, the committeewoman, on the second floor and attacked her there.

Morrison allegedly hit and cut the victims with a silver colored object, police said.

Gaines and her son, whose name was not immediately available, were taken to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, police said. She suffered several cuts, a puncture wound to the torso, and a possible punctured lung. Her son suffered cuts and bruises to his face, body and back.

Both State Sen. Anthony Williams and City Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell went to the neighborhood after the attack and offered a $5,000 reward for the arrest of Morrison.

Police said robbery appeared to be the motive for the attack, but it is not clear if the assailant fled with anything of value.

Morrison is 5-feet 9-inches tall, 190 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes, police said.

Anyone with information on Morrison's whereabouts can call the Southwest Detective Division at 215-686-3183, the police department's tip line at 215-686-8477 or dial 911.

Contact Robert Moran at 215-854-5983, or bmoran@phillynews.com, or follow @RobertMoran215 on Twitter.

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