Arrest Made In Pottstown Stabbing, First Montco Homicide Of 2019

POTTSTOWN, PA — A Pottstown man has been charged with first degree murder after the man he stabbed last week passed away in the hospital Monday. The incident marks the first homicide in Montgomery County in 2019.

The incident occurred on Friday, Jan. 3 at around 11:56 p.m. outside of Pottstown Middle School, according to the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office.

Sean Emmell, 24, was picked up earlier that evening by a 19-year-old woman he used to have a relationship with, police said.

The pair drove to the middle school area to talk, police said. The woman told her current boyfriend, the victim Joshua Shuphard, 20, to be in the area and to keep an eye out because Emmell had raped her in the past.

During the conversation between Emmell and the woman, police said Emmell began to act threateningly, and the woman got out of the car and pulled out a folding knife.

The pair began to wrestle and Emmell gained control of the knife, according to authorities.

That's when Shuphard arrived on the scene, and Emmell turned the knife on Shuphard, stabbing him several times, police said.

Shuphard was found by first responders "bleeding profusely from a large chest wound," with the woman by his side, the weapon used by Emmell nearby.

Shuphard was taken to Reading Hospital, but passed away from his wounds on Jan. 7 at around 6:45 p.m.

Emmell was booked at Montgomery County Correctional Facility. He also faces charges of attempted murder, rape, aggravated assault, terroristic threats, and related counts.

No bail was offered due to the first degree murder charge and a preliminary hearing has been set for Jan. 23.

Image via Montgomery County District Attorney's Office