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In Today’s Issue of Downingtown Local Pulse…

☀️ Downingtown PA Weather

🚨 Three Charged With Murder in Lincoln University Homecoming Shooting

💽 West Bradford Drafts Detailed Zoning Rules for Data Centers

🪺 New Nesting Box at Springton Manor Welcomes American Kestrels

💐 Mothers’ Day Weekend Brings Flowers, Fountains and Festivals to the Brandywine Valley

🏘️ Local Real Estate Listings

🗓️ Upcoming Local Events

LINCOLN UNIVERSITY, PA — Chester County prosecutors announced Tuesday that three men have been charged with murder in the mass shooting that killed one person and injured six others during homecoming weekend at Lincoln University last October. The suspects — William Sells, 20, Makaveli Valera, 19, and Karon Rollins, 17, all of Wilmington, Del. — are in custody in Delaware awaiting extradition. Mr. Rollins, who was 16 at the time, is being charged as an adult.

According to District Attorney Christopher de Barrena-Sarobe, the men traveled to the historically Black university on Oct. 25, 2025, knowing it would be packed for homecoming, and carried out a series of armed robberies targeting attendees. The shooting erupted around 9 p.m. in a campus parking lot when the group allegedly tried to rob Ju'Juan Jeffers, a 20-year-old Lincoln student from Wilmington whom they knew. Mr. Jeffers was killed and six others, including Mr. Sells, were wounded.

Investigators relied heavily on social media posts, direct messages, photos and videos to identify the suspects and place them at the scene. A key break came in January, when Wilmington police arrested Mr. Rollins wearing a chain reported stolen during the homecoming robberies. A fourth defendant, Zecqueous Morgan-Thompson, originally arrested that night on a firearms charge, now faces six counts of aggravated assault, though authorities say he was not connected to the other three. He remains held on $1 million bail.

The Jeffers family filed a lawsuit against Lincoln University in March, alleging the school failed to provide adequate security or respond to warnings of possible violence.

WEST BRADFORD TWP — West Bradford Township has released a draft zoning ordinance that would allow data centers in its Institutional/Mixed Use district as a conditional use, subject to detailed standards on size, setbacks, noise, water use and emergency planning. The proposal sets an eight-acre minimum lot size, 200- to 400-foot setbacks, a 40-foot height cap, and strict limits on sound and vibration at property lines. It also bars groundwater and stream withdrawals as primary cooling sources, requires Tier 4 emissions standards for backup generators, and mandates upfront emergency response and decommissioning plans. Officials say the rules are designed to protect residents while holding up to legal scrutiny. The draft is available for review at westbradford.org.

GLENMOORE, PA — Chester County Parks has installed a new American kestrel nesting box at Springton Manor Farm, where the small falcons are already a familiar sight hovering and swooping over the open fields. The box is meant to give the birds a safe place to raise their young, and park staff say visitors may be lucky enough to spot fledglings later in the summer. Kestrels, the smallest falcons in North America, have faced population pressures in parts of their range, and nesting structures in suitable habitat can help support local populations. Springton Manor's grasslands and meadows make it a natural fit.

BRANDYWINE VALLEY, PA — The Brandywine Valley is rolling out a full slate of Mother's Day weekend activities on May 9 and 10, ranging from garden openings to steeplechase races to plant sales. The Main Fountain Garden at Longwood Gardens reopens for the season, while the 33rd annual Willowdale Steeplechase returns to Kennett Square. Phoenixville hosts a Farm Fest and Market, Chadds Ford offers a Disco Cowgirl event at Shadow Creek Farm and a market at Penns Woods Winery, and the Brandywine Museum of Art holds its Wildflower and Native Plant Sale. Other events include a historic houses tea party in Caln Township, a celebration at the Mill at Anselma, a bouquet bar at Paradox Winery, a string quartet at Winterthur and Pints on the Preserve at Cheslen.

For dining, dozens of local restaurants are taking reservations across the county, including spots in West Chester, Downingtown, Kennett Square, Chadds Ford, Malvern, Exton, Phoenixville, Parkesburg, Coatesville, Glen Mills and Chester Springs. Many are offering brunch, dinner specials or multi-course menus. A complete list of events and restaurants is available at brandywinevalley.com.

Just Listed:
335 E LANCASTER AVE #B-14 Downingtown ($190,000)
335 E LANCASTER AVE #E-5 Downingtown ($190,000)
19 LAMMEY WAY Downingtown ($850,000) Open Fri 5PM-7PM

Price Reduced:
390 MARY ST Downingtown ($450,000)
120 ARDEN WAY Downingtown ($609,000)
604 ALBION PL Downingtown ($610,000) Open Thu 5PM-7PM
25 N TOMPKINS SQ Downingtown ($678,000)
402 NATIONAL DR Downingtown ($779,000) Open Sat 4PM-6PM
266 ARTERS WAY Downingtown ($820,000)
1464 W STONINGTON Downingtown ($1,150,000)
580 REEDS RD Downingtown ($1,499,000)

Active:
262 CARLYN CT Downingtown ($250,000)
131 BRADFORD AVE Downingtown ($295,000)
57 BRIGHTON CT Downingtown ($320,000)
260 MOORE RD Downingtown ($429,900)
1845 BOULDER DR Downingtown ($517,000)
404 COUNTRY EDGE CIR Downingtown ($560,000)
5025 DEER DR Downingtown ($600,000)
19 PONDS END DR Downingtown ($615,000)
560 NORWOOD RD Downingtown ($635,000) Open Thu 5PM-7PM
2720 W CHESTER RD Downingtown ($645,000)
417 VINEYARD LN Downingtown ($650,000)
43 LILA LN Downingtown ($695,000)
813 TREMONT DR Downingtown ($814,900)
307 S CALDWELL CIR Downingtown ($819,900)
735 APPALOOSA RD Downingtown ($849,900)


Coming Soon:
33 HASTINGS CT #33 Downingtown ($419,000)
408 HIGHLAND AVE Downingtown ($435,000) Open Sat 1PM-3PM
7 FOUR LEAF DR Downingtown ($560,000)


See more listings at ChesterCountyRealty.com

INSTANT HOME VALUE CLICK HERE

Upcoming local events…

Downingtown Cars & Coffee (Downingtown) - May 9, 9am-11am

Repair Cafe Downingtown - May 9, 10am-2pm

Founding Fathers Historic House and Garden Tea Party $ (Caln) - May 9, 1pm-4pm

The Ledbetters and Superunknown- Tributes to Pearl Jam and Christ Cornell $ (Phoenixville) - May 16, 8pm

West Bradford Day (Broad Run Park) - May 17, 12pm-4pm

EB Fore The Parks Golf Tournament (Honey Brook) - May 20, 8am-12pm

YPN Kickball Tournament and Happy Hour (Downingtown) - May 21, 5pm-7:30pm

46th Annual Chester County Antique Car Club Car Show (Downingtown) - May 23, 10am-2pm

Small Business Networking Happy Hour (Downingtown - May 29, 6pm-9pm

Kerr Park Gallery Walk (Downingtown) - May 31, 11am-2pm

St. Joseph Community Festival (Downingtown) - June 16-June20

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Let’s make 2026 your best year yet! 🍾🥳

Catch up on previous issues…