Teen Charged With Murdering Woman During Home Invasion: Montco DA

POTTSTOWN, PA — An 18-year-old has been charged in connection with a fatal shooting during a home invasion robbery earlier this month, Montgomery County authorities announced Tuesday.

Aaron Joseph Taylor, 18, of Pottstown, shot the victim through her bedroom door, the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office announced. He was charged with second and third degree murder. A 17-year-old who broke into the home with him is also in custody, and has been charged with robbery and conspiracy.

The incident occurred on Nov. 18 at around 6:45 p.m. at a home on the 300 block of North Washington Street.

A repair man was changing the front door lock when Taylor and the juvenile suspect came up to him and pointed a gun at him, moving him into the kitchen, the DA said.

>>Woman Killed In Her Bedroom During Pottstown Home Invasion: DA

Taylor then headed upstairs, where a resident, Syliva Williams, 38, had barricaded herself inside her bedroom along with her boyfriend. They had an alarm remote and they hit the panic alarm, according to a criminal complaint.

Police said Taylor tried to break the door down and when he couldn't, he fired one shot through the door before fleeing the scene, telling the other suspect "there ain't nothing here."

Williams' boyfriend listened for them to leave, and heard the repair man come up and tell them that the coast was clear. But when he turned back to Williams, he saw she was not moving and was bleeding from her head. She was pronounced dead shortly thereafter.

An investigation revealed that Taylor and the second suspect believed the home belonged to a major drug dealer, and they planned to rob it. When they discovered they were wrong, they took nothing and left, the complaint states.

Taylor was arraigned on Tuesday and bail was denied. He was sent to Mongomery County Correctional Facility. A preliminary hearing is set for Dec. 7.

Image via Montgomery County District Attorney's Office