fugitive Bloods gangster with roots in Liberia was captured and charged yesterday with shooting a local man at a homecoming party for a U.S. Marine on upscale Palton Road.Police said Daniel “Rush” Potepa, 20, shot 23-year-old Anshul Rastogi in the arm, hip and pelvis, wounding him gravely. Rastogi was reported in critical condition on a respirator at Aria Health’s Torresdale hospital.According to a probable cause affadavit, the party was held on Jan. 23 for Iraq War returnee Michael Shannon, a Marine who saw Potepa’s gun jam when the suspect pointed it at him and tried to fire.The legal papers also said the shots were fired at the party at the same time Potepa’s ally in the Sex Money Murder wing of the Bloods was smashing liquor bottles and threatening to cut people with the jagged edges.Four Bensalem detectives cracked the case by checking the social networking Internet site Facebook to compile a list of party attendees and see some of their pictures. (Also on Facebook, Shannon recounted the incident and ID'd Rastogi as his best friend.)
Promoted on the Internet as the “The Party at the Mansion,” the celebration at the $600,000 home stopped minutes before 3:30 a.m. when, police said, the host said someone had stolen a cell phone from the kitchen.When the party “bouncers” tried to stop anyone from leaving before they were frisked, “Rush” Potepa allegedly balked and in crude language said what he thought of the phone and its owner.That’s when, police said, the Liberian national pulled out a gun and started shooting. With Rastogi down on the floor bleeding heavily, Potepa allegedly stood over him and fired another shot at the victim just seconds after the misfire at lucky Marine Shannon.
Shannon was cited in the probable cause papers as saying he thought Potepa had shot Rastogi in the head.The papers also said Potepa’s fellow gangster, 24-year-old Augustine “Lyrico” Kiawu, allegedly smashed the liquor bottles, cut Shannon’s brother and threatened others.
With help from the Web site and videos taken at the party, cops were able to arrest Kiawu last week. He was charged with aggravated assault and other offenses, as was Bristol Township resident Potepa when cops caught up to him.
A judge ordered Potepa held on $3 million bail as Rastogi was fighting for his life in the intensive care unit. Police said Rostogi needs a ventilator to keep breathing and that he was twice taken off the device and quickly put back on both times.
The hospital would not release information on the condition of the victim, a Bensalem High graduate and college student whose family was said to be with him in the intensive care unit.But Rastogi’s sister, Monica, told friends on Facebook that he was able to talk when a tube was taken out of his mouth and that the family is hopeful.