The communications department of Montgomery County has confirmed that a shooting took place in Pottstown on Thursday evening. It was on the 400 block of Beech Street at approximately 9:15 o’clock in the evening. According to the police, two individuals were transported to the hospital. it is unknown at this time if any arrest has been made.
On other news, a teen has been charged with murder, according to the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office, for allegedly shooting and murdering a man in Pottstown. Officers responded to the Security Plaza on South Hanover Street and discovered a man with a gunshot wound to the head, subsequently identified as 39-year-old Jeremiah Waylon Hawkins, according to court documents.
Officials reported that Hawkins was transported to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced deceased. The suspect, subsequently identified as 15-year-old Thomas James Niarhos of Stowe, was reportedly apprehended by a witness and taken into custody by police without delay, according to officials.
Officials stated that it was subsequently determined that the firearm recovered from the crime site belonged to Niarhos’ father. After conducting additional inquiry, detectives ascertained that Niarhos and Hawkins had engaged in a physical altercation.
Officials claim that Niarhos extended his arm toward Hawkins, and in response, Hawkins hurled a tire in an attempt to remove a firearm from Niarhos’ grasp, as captured on surveillance footage. Then, according to officials, Niarhos discharged a single round at Hawkins before dropping the weapon and being apprehended.
According to an autopsy report, Hawkins was shot once at close range in the side of the face, according to officials. Niarhos has been charged as an adult with first-degree murder, third-degree murder, possession of a firearm by a juvenile, possession of an instrument of crime, and additional offenses, according to court documents.