Incident Overview
A hit‑and‑run that killed Uber passenger Angela Cooper and injured driver Pastor Stephen Thompson has come to a close with the suspect surrendering after a day on the run.
Joseph Cini, 35, was apprehended at Philadelphia police headquarters on Dec. 16.
He was surrounded by family members who witnessed his arrival.
The surrender marked the end of a pursuit that began early in the morning.
The incident is being investigated as a serious crime involving a fatality and an injury.
Surrender
The incident began on Monday, Dec. 15, 2025, at 7:14 a.m. on the 900 block of North Watts Street.
Members of the Philadelphia Sheriff’s Office attempted to serve a warrant against Cini for an alleged domestic assault.
The warrant was pending at the time of the attempt.
Cini fled the scene in a Nissan Maxima.
He was traveling eastbound on Girard Avenue from Watts Street when the crash occurred.
Investigators confirmed the collision involved the passenger side of a red Jeep Patriot.
The Jeep was an Uber vehicle.
The impact caused a fatal injury to Angela Cooper.
It also caused severe injuries to Pastor Stephen Thompson.
The crash took place at 7:24 a.m.
Angela Cooper, 63, was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency medical personnel.
Pastor Thompson was transported to Temple University Hospital via ambulance.
He was placed in stable condition.
Jenelle Thompson reported he has several broken ribs and a collapsed lung.
She emphasized that her husband is in pain but alive.
Jenelle Thompson described the injuries as several broken ribs and a collapsed lung.
She said, “He’s doing well. He’s resting right now. He’s still in a lot of pain. But he’s alive.”
The comments were made during a brief interview.
Jenelle also spoke about the impact on their family.
Her statements were shared with local media.
On Tuesday night, members of the House of Triumph Outreach and Worship Center handed out food to those in need in Kensington.
The center is located in Kensington.
The mission is part of the center’s regular outreach program.
Pastor Stephen would normally lead the food distribution each Tuesday.
This time the distribution occurred without Pastor Stephen.
Jenelle noted that the mission is part of the center’s regular outreach program.
She said, “Ultimately this is God’s work. And I would get in trouble because he’s my husband first but he’s also my pastor. So, I would get in trouble by my pastor because he’s like, ‘You still have able people to help you do the work. Just because I’m down, doesn’t mean God’s work is down,’” she said.
The comments reflect her perspective on the mission.
The mission continued despite Pastor Stephen’s injury.
The community received food and assistance during the event.
Police have not yet revealed whether Cini faces any charges.
The authorities are still investigating the incident.
The investigation is ongoing.
Updates will be provided as new information becomes available.
NBC10 footage captured Cini being surrounded by family before he entered the police station.
The footage was aired by local news.
It showed Cini’s arrival at the headquarters.
The video highlighted the family’s presence.
The coverage added context to the surrender.
North Watts Street is a busy thoroughfare during the morning commute.
The crash occurred on this busy street.
The area is known for high traffic during rush hours.
The incident added to the traffic concerns.
Local authorities noted the location in their report.
The red Jeep Patriot was struck by the Nissan Maxima’s front impact.
The collision involved the passenger side of the Jeep.
The impact caused fatal injuries to the passenger.
It also caused serious injuries to the driver.
The crash was documented by investigators.
The collision caused fatal injuries to Angela Cooper and serious injuries to Pastor Stephen Thompson.
Emergency responders arrived promptly.
They transported the injured to the hospital.
The driver was stabilized in the emergency department.
The passenger was pronounced dead at the scene.
Cini attempted to evade authorities by walking away from the scene.
He left the vehicle and walked northbound on 8th Street.
He was eventually located.
He surrendered at the police headquarters.
The surrender concluded a day‑long pursuit that began early in the morning on December 15.
The pursuit spanned several hours.
The incident was closed following his surrender.
The incident is being investigated as a serious crime involving a fatality and an injury.
The investigation is ongoing.
Updates will be provided as new information becomes available.
The incident drew attention from local news outlets, including NBC10.
NBC10 captured the surrender moments.
The footage was shared with the public.
The coverage highlighted the suspect’s surrender.
The incident was reported widely.
The crash occurred on the 900 block of North Watts Street.
The area is a busy thoroughfare.
The crash took place at 7:24 a.m.
The impact caused fatal injuries.
The incident was recorded by emergency personnel.
The red Jeep Patriot was struck on the passenger side by the Nissan Maxima.
The collision caused fatal injuries to the passenger.
It also caused serious injuries to the driver.
Investigators confirmed the impact.
The crash was documented in the police report.
Cini attempted to evade authorities by walking away from the scene.
He left the vehicle and walked northbound on 8th Street.
He was eventually located.
He surrendered at the police headquarters.
The surrender concluded a day‑long pursuit that began early in the morning on December 15.
The incident was closed following his surrender.
No charges have been announced.
The case remains under investigation.
