January 26, 2024
Thom Carroll/for PhillyVoice
Michael Diggs, 18, has been charged in connection with the escape of 17-year-old inmate Shane Pryor, who fled from authorities in University City on Wednesday and remains on the run, police say.
Philadelphia police have arrested a man who allegedly helped Shane Pryor flee from University City after the accused murderer escaped from authorities outside Children's Hospital of Philadelphia on Wednesday afternoon.
Michael Diggs, 18, allegedly picked up Pryor, 17, who remains on the run. Police stopped Diggs, who was driving a cream-colored Ford, later that day after they traced Pryor's movements and found evidence they believe shows Diggs had been helping him, authorities said.
Pryor escaped around noon Wednesday after being transported to CHOP from the Philadelphia Juvenile Justice Services Center. He was being taken to the hospital to be treated for a hand injury, police said. When he got out of the transport car, Pryor ran from escort staff in the hospital's emergency room parking lot near 34th and Spruce streets. He was not wearing handcuffs at the time, according to investigators.
The escape prompted a search of CHOP's Buerger Center. On Thursday, U.S. Marshals released surveillance video that shows Pryor inside the lobby of CHOP's Hub for Clinical Collaboration, a building connected to the Buerger Center, minutes after his escape. A receptionist there refused Pryor's request to use the phone and he left, police said.
Pryor then asked a woman on Civic Center Boulevard to user her cell phone, telling her he had just been in a fight and needed to make a call, supervisory deputy U.S. Marshal Robert Clark said at a press conference Friday afternoon. Pryor used the phone to call Diggs.
Diggs picked Pryor up at 12:30 p.m. on the 3500 block of Civic Center Boulevard and the pair left University City, officials said.
Surveillance video shows Diggs and Pryor near Mascher Street and Godfrey Avenue in Olney at 1:15 p.m. They left the area in the Ford about 45 minutes later. Philadelphia police located and stopped the car at 6:40 p.m. on the 200 block of East Logan Street in North Philly. Pryor was not in the vehicle and Diggs was taken into custody, officials said.
Pryor is charged with shooting and killing a woman in an alley in Holmesburg in 2020. He was 14 at the time and is charged as an adult with her homicide. He has been in custody since October 2020.
In December, a judge denied Pryor's request to have his case returned to juvenile court. Pryor's attorney, Paul DiMaio, said that may have influenced Pryor's decision to escape. He urged Pryor, who has maintained his innocence, to turn himself in to authorities.
Clark said Friday that investigators believe Pryor remains in Philadelphia and may be getting help from others.
"We will continue to prosecute anyone that furthers Shane Pryor's flight," Clark said.
Pryor has connections to the Mayfair neighborhood in Northeast Philly and could possibly be there, authorities said, although there have been no leads to confirm that.
Diggs is charged with hindering apprehension, escape, use of communication facility and criminal conspiracy.
Pryor is considered dangerous. Anyone with information on his whereabouts can call 911 or the Philadelphia police tip line at (215) 686-8477. Tips also can be submitted to the U.S. Marshals Philadelphia tip line at (866) 865-8477.
