Drugs, guns found in Philly homes after man fires at officers, officials say – nbcphiladelphia.com
Drugs, guns and cash were found inside three Philadelphia homes after a man fired at officers who were executing a warrant, officials said. NBC10’s Deanna Durante has the details.
Investigators found millions of dollars’ worth of marijuana, guns and cash after a man shot at state troopers, police officers and narcotics agents who were executing a search warrant at a Philadelphia home, investigators said.
Nicholas Sperando, 26, of Philadelphia, is charged with attempted murder, attempted murder of a law enforcement officer, aggravated assault, manufacture, delivery or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver, and other related offenses.
Stream Philadelphia News for free, 24/7, wherever you are with NBC10.
The investigation began in September 2025 when officials in Bucks County used an informant who contacted Sperando via social media and met with him to buy marijuana, according to the criminal complaint.
A drug deal then took place between the informant and Sperando in Northeast Philadelphia, investigators said.
A second marijuana deal took place between an informant and Sperando in Levittown, Pennsylvania, in December 2025, while a third deal once again took place in Northeast Philadelphia in January 2026, investigators said.
The marijuana that was purchased during the deals was sent to a lab for analysis, according to officials. Investigators then obtained warrants for three Philadelphia addresses that were connected to Sperando, officials said.
On Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, around 6 a.m., narcotics agents with the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General, Pennsylvania State Police, Philadelphia Police, Bucks County detectives and Bensalem Police arrived at one of the homes on the 3800 block of Fairdale Road to execute the search warrant.
Breaking news and the stories that matter to your neighborhood.
After announcing their presence and attempting to ram through the front door, the investigators heard a shot that was fired from inside the home, officials said.
The investigators retreated, once again announced their presence, and another shot was fired, according to the criminal complaint.
The investigators retreated once again and established a perimeter while calling for Sperando to get out of the home, officials said.
About five to eight minutes later, Sperando opened the garage door and was taken into custody, according to investigators.
Police searched through the home and found a semiautomatic pistol with a live round sticking out of the chamber, according to the criminal complaint. They also found fired cartridge casings, a live round, an AR style rifle, a 9mm Glock handgun with an extended magazine, drug paraphernalia, cash, and bullet holes in the wall towards a neighbor’s home as well as one of the doors, investigators said.
Around the same time that morning, investigators executed a search warrant at a second home along the 1200 block of Day Street in Philadelphia. During the search, investigators found 19-year-old David Tierney inside an upstairs bathroom trying to flush pills and a white powdery substance – believed to be cocaine – in the toilet, according to the criminal complaint. Tierney was taken into custody without incident.
Police also searched through a van and a trailer registered to Sperando at the location and found large amounts of suspected marijuana, drug paraphernalia, cash and a loaded gun underneath the pillow on a bed, according to the criminal complaint.
Later that same morning, investigators executed a third search warrant at a home affiliated with Sperando on the 9200 block of James Street in Philadelphia. During the search, they found more marijuana, more guns – including a Mossberg pump shotgun – and more drug paraphernalia, according to the criminal complaint.
Sperando is currently being held in the Bucks County Jail after his bail was denied. His lawyer, Louis Busico, told NBC10 his client was acting out of fear when he allegedly shot at officers.
“This young man was in lawful possession of a firearm and believed his home was being broken into when he heard loud banging at the door and the house alarm going off,” Busico said.
Tierney is charged with manufacture, delivery or possession with intent to manufacture or delivery, conspiracy and tampering with/fabricating physical evidence. He is also being held in the Bucks County Jail after failing to post bail.
NBC10 reached out to Tierney’s attorney who said he has no comment at this time.
While Sperando and Tierney are in custody, police said they’re looking for others who may have also been involved in the drug and gun sales.
