Denouncing violence against law enforcement and fulfilling his pledge to keep dangerous defendants behind bars without the possibility of posting cash bail, Bucks County District Attorney Joe Khan announced the arrest, charging and no-bail detention of a 26-year-old man who opened fired on a Bucks County drug task force serving a high-risk warrant in Philadelphia.

The no-bail detention follows the takedown of a multi-state, multimillion dollar drug trafficking organization and the seizure of eight firearms and $4 million in drugs.  

DA Khan also announced the arrest of the man’s co-conspirator, who had previously been released after posting cash bail in another jurisdiction.   

While executing a search warrant at a residence on Fairdale Road in Philadelphia on Jan. 15, members of a large, multi-agency task force led by the Bucks County Detectives Drug Strike Force and the Bensalem Township Police Special Investigation Unit were met with gunfire from within the property, one of the locations of the drug trafficking organization.  

As law enforcement announced their presence and began to breach the front door with a ram, a shot was fired from inside. Less than a minute later, as officers retreated and maintained cover, a second round was fired through the front door and storm door, directly targeting the position where the officers had been standing.  

Agents with the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office and Pennsylvania State Police Troopers were in the direct line of fire as they executed the search with members of the Bucks County Detectives, Bensalem Township Police Department, and Philadelphia Police Department. 

Despite the lethal threat, no officers were injured, and no members of law enforcement discharged their firearms during the apprehension of Nicholas Sperando (who eventually surrendered after the shots were fired).  Although the shooting occurred in Philadelphia, the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office, in cooperation of the Attorney General’s Office, asserted jurisdiction over the shooting. 

“This cowardly act against our officers was an attack on the rule of law, and our office will always protect those who risk their lives to protect us, even when that happens across county lines,” said Khan.  “Defendants like this shouldn’t be allowed to buy their way out of jail, which is why our office successfully argued to have him detained in Bucks County without the possibility of posting cash bail.” 

Sperando is being held without bail on two counts each of attempted murder and attempted murder of a law enforcement officer. He is also facing three counts of aggravated assault as well as one count each of possession with intent to deliver controlled substances, criminal conspiracy, possessing an instrument of crime, criminal use of a communication facility, possession of a controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia. 
 
“This investigation highlights the real dangers that law enforcement officers face when dealing with illegal drugs and guns. The suspects in this case posed a significant threat to officers, but also the innocent civilians they came in contact with every day,” Bensalem Public Safety Director William McVey said. “Thankfully, none of our officers were struck by gunfire that morning. Their training and professionalism led to a successful apprehension. The results of this investigation are commendable, demonstrate the value of law enforcement collaboration, and will make our communities safer.” 

The Jan. 15 raid, which dismantled a multimillion dollar drug trafficking organization, was the culmination of a monthslong investigation where investigators conducted multiple purchases of controlled substances from Sperando. These transactions occurred in Levittown and Northeast Philadelphia, providing the probable cause necessary for coordinated raids on January 15.  

Gun Misfire

When investigators finally entered the Fairdale Road residence after Sperando's surrender, they recovered the FN Herstal 5.7 pistol used in the shooting, and police noted that there was a live round jammed in the chamber that likely prevented the defendant from firing even more rounds. 

Also located in the house was an AR-style rifle, a Glock handgun with an extended magazine, and bulk quantities of marijuana and drug proceeds. 

The operation simultaneously targeted other key locations used by the organization. At a stash house on Day Street in Philadelphia, co-defendant David Tierney was apprehended after he was observed attempting to flush pills and suspected cocaine down a toilet as officers arrived. At that location, agents discovered a firearm under a pillow and a trailer filled with enormous quantities of marijuana and THC vapes. A third search at a location on James Street, Sperando’s place of work, yielded a short-barrel Mossberg pump shotgun, a Ruger .380, and a significant supply of psilocybin mushrooms and edibles. 

In total, the investigation removed eight firearms and $4 million worth of drugs from the streets, including 300 pounds of marijuana and 17,000 THC vapes. Other drugs included 80 pounds of THC concentrate, 600 bags of THC Edibles, 15 pounds of Psilocybin Mushrooms, 75 Psilocybin Mushroom Edibles, 300 Adderall pills, and 2 ounces of Cocaine. 

Recovered Drugs and Guns

Nicholas Sperando remains in custody without bail and David Tierney is held on $250,000 bail.  The third target, Nicholas Keenoy, surrendered to authorities on January 27, 2026. (Keenoy was previously arrested in New Jersey on an outstanding warrant but was released by that state after posting cash bail prior to his extradition to Pennsylvania.)  

This massive, multi-jurisdictional takedown was led by the Bucks County Detectives Drug Strike Force and the Bensalem Township Police Department, with assistance from the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General Bureau of Narcotics Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Philadelphia Police Department, Pennsylvania State Police, Bristol Township Police Department, Liberty Mid-Atlantic High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA), Mount Laurel Police Department (NJ) and the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office (NJ). 

The case is being prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Christopher Rees.  

Media Contact: Manuel Gamiz Jr., 215.348.6298, mgamiz@buckscounty.org  

Criminal charges are allegations subject to proof in court. Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.