The teenage son of a homeless advocate is accused of killing a homeless man in what may have been revenge for attacking his girlfriend, The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
Authorities allege that around noon Wednesday, 15-year-old Thomas James Niarhos shot and killed 39-year-old Jeremiah Waylon Hawkins in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, as CrimeOnline reported.
Hawkins was found with a gunshot wound to his face and was rushed to an area hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The shooting came after Niarhos accused Hawkins of raping his 16-year-old girlfriend in July, but the girl’s family did not cooperate with police and did not want to press charges, according to DailyMail.
As medics were tending to Hawkins, Niarhos is said to have yelled, “He’s a rapist, don’t be sorry for him . . . he raped a 15-year-old girl, don’t help him,” DailyMail reported, citing court records.
Footage from security cameras shows that Niarhos argued with Hawkins just before the shooting. Police recovered a .40-caliber semi-automatic gun at the scene, located less than a block from the city’s police department.
Niarhos allegedly threw the gun away and then attempted to flee, but bystanders prevented him from leaving.
Officials determined that the gun used in the shooting is owned by Niarhos’ father, Tom Niarhos, who is the executive director of the Pottstown Beacon of Hope, which works to provide shelter to unhoused members of the community.
“The only comment I have is that it was a tragedy and my prayers go out to [Hawkins’] family,” Tom Niarhos told DailyMail.
The younger Niarhos was being held without bail as of Saturday. He faces adult charges of first-degree murder, third-degree murder, minor in possession of a firearm, and possession of an instrument of crime, according to NBC Philadelphia.
Pottstown is about 40 miles northwest of Philadelphia’s city center.
For the latest true crime and justice news, subscribe to the ‘Crime Stories with Nancy Grace’ podcast. Listen to the latest episode:
[Feature Photo: Shutterstock]
