Crime & Safety
Details Emerge In Killing Of Phoenixville Teen; 1 Man Wanted: DA
One man is arrested and the hunt is on for another suspect, the shooter, as details begin to emerge from the tragic night last December.
PHOENIXVILLE, PA — One man is arrested and the hunt is on for another suspect, the shooter, as details begin to emerge from a tragic night in the borough last December.
Police now say that Phoenixville High School freshman Jayson Ortiz-Cameron, 15, was not planning to rob drug dealers, but was instead planning to buy a small amount of drugs, and was actually the target of the robbery that resulted in his death.
"The senseless murder...was the result of a petty drug deal gone awry," Phoenixville Police Chief Tom Sjostrom said. "It is a tragedy that reinforces the dangers of all illegal drug use in our community."
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Charges have been filed against two men. Robert McCoy III, 23, of Pottstown, has been arrested for second degree murder and related counts, police said. One other suspect, 25-year-old Brian Corsey of Philadelphia, is still on the run and is being sought by police. He faces charges of first degree murder and related counts.
The incident occurred on Dec. 27 at 7:15 p.m. in the Dunkin Donuts parking lot.
Find out what's happening in Phoenixvillefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The suspects arrived and circled the parking lot, before backing into a spot at the back of the lot, according to officials. That spot had been agreed upon as the meeting spot between the dealers, Ortiz-Cameron, and his friend before the deal, the DA's Office said.
After speaking for a short time, Ortiz-Cameron and Corsey stood alone near the parked car. McCoy grabbed Ortiz-Cameron's friend and refused to let him near the pair, the DA said. After a short interchange, Corsey pulled out a gun and shot Ortiz-Cameron in the head at point blank range, according to authorities.
Corsey and McCoy then fled the scene with a third man, who never got out of their vehicle.
McCoy was remanded to Chester County Prison.
If you have any information on Corsey, please contact Phoenixville Detective Nick Natale at 610-933-1180 or Chester County Detective Joe Walton at 610-344-6866.
Image of Corsey (1) and McCoy (2) via Chester County District Attorney's Office
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