Teen Charged After Man Fatally Shot In Head In Pottstown: DA

POTTSTOWN, PA — A 15-year-old boy faces charges after authorities said he shot a homeless man in the head in broad daylight Wednesday in Pottstown.

Thomas James Niarhos, 15, of Stowe, was charged with first- and third-degree murder in connection with the death of 39-year-old Jeremiah Waylon Hawkins, whom police said was homeless at the time of the shooting, according to the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office. Patch is naming the teen because prosecutors charged him as an adult.

The shooting occurred shortly before 12:10 p.m. on South Hanover Street at Security Plaza, according to police.

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Prosecutors said police arrived and found Hawkins lying on Hanover Street with a gunshot wound to the head. Nearby witnesses were holding Niarhos, who was immediately taken into custody, prosecutors said.

Hawkins was taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead, authorities said.

After interviewing witnesses and reviewing surveillance footage, authorities determined Niarhos sought out Hawkins the day of the shooting. The pair argued before Hawkins swung a tire at Niarhos, attempting to knock a gun from his hand.

Prosecutors said Niarhos then fired a single shot at Hawkins' head, causing him to immediately fall to the ground. Niarhos fired a second time before he dropped the gun and walked away, authorities said. Bystanders were able to detain him, according to prosecutors.

Authorities located a gun at the scene and determined it belonged to Niarhos' father, prosecutors said.

An autopsy determined Hawkins died from the gunshot wound to his head. The Montgomery County Coroner’s Office ruled his death a homicide, prosecutors said.

Niarhos is currently being held in jail on no bond. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Thursday.