MONROE COUNTY, PA –�A $120 marijuana drug
deal led to the shooting
death of a 15-year-old Pennsylvania boy and the wounding of
another teen.
The shooting happened Sunday night in Polk Township, a small
borough in Monroe County, the county that sits between Allentown
and Scranton in eastern Pennsylvania.
Several teens communicated via text message about hanging out
and one teen indicated he had a half-ounce of marijuana to sell for
$120. Three of the teens went to the meet-up armed with a pistol
and a sporting rifle, possibly intending to rob the other teen.
The plan was to meet in a cul-de-sac between the Jonas Mountain
Nature Preserve and a residential subdivision while driving a 2012
Volvo.
The meeting resulted in 15-year-old Aiden Paiz being shot to
death, his friend and 17-year-old driver wounded, and a 14-year-old
left to wait in the back seat until Pennsylvania State Police
arrived.
The three teens were to meet with three other teens, 18-year-old
Anthony Mitchell Jr., 15-year-old Michael Demuro-Correll, and
18-year-old Justin G. Lemont. The latter teens arrived with a 9mm
handgun and a .223 caliber AR-15.
According to statements from suspects Mitchell and
Demuro-Correll, Mitchell claimed he was carrying the rifle and
while tapping on the passenger window of the Volvo, he accidentally
fired a shot. He reportedly told police the .223 rounds passed
through the car and did not hit anyone.
According to Pennsylvania
State Police, two people have been arrested in connection with the
killing of 15-year-old Aiden Paiz Sunday night in Polk Township,
Monroe County.https://t.co/mQIbAfm3Zl— Eyewitness News (@wbrewyou)
November 23, 2020
Mitchell told investigators:
“At the same time, Demuro-Correll was at the
driver’s side, carrying a 9mm pistol and began firing into the
vehicle.â€
According to the report by lehighvalleylive.com:
“Statements from the surviving robbery victims
indicated one of the assailants at the driver’s side door pulled
a black semiautomatic handgun from his waistband, said he’s a
member of the Crips street gang and said, ‘Give me all your
(expletive),’ before the shots rang out.â€
The driver’s side gunman wore a blue bandanna, similar to
social media images Demuro-Correll had posted, according to
police.
The 17-year-old behind the wheel of the victims’ car drove off
before stopping along Squirrelwood Court, where the 14-year-old
dialed 911.
Court records and the police report show that Mitchell,
Demuro-Correll, and Lemont also drove off, ditching a duffle bag
containing the firearms and some clothing in a wooded area. The
firearms were recovered later by authorities.
Lemont claimed he remained in the suspects’ car during the
robbery and shooting. He also admitted to committing several prior
similar robberies with Mitchell.
Here’s our first look at the
three charged in the death of 15-year-old Aiden Paiz in Monroe
CountyWe have more details on what exactly happened the day he was
killed: https://t.co/vn7eDomvH7 pic.twitter.com/Ukr8PwIATp— FOX56 NEWS WOLF-TV (@FOX56WOLF)
November 24, 2020
According to court records cited by lehighvalleylive.com:
“Mitchell’s sister, who is not charged, told police
she had been riding around with the assailants beforehand but was
dropped off prior to the robbery, court records say.
“She reportedly told investigators she had heard the
guns referred to as ‘ghost guns’ in that they didn’t have
serial numbers and that Mitchell kept him in his bedroom, despite
being a felon prohibited from possessing firearms.â€
Aiden Paiz, a 9th-grade student at a local high school, was
struck one time by a 9mm bullet and was killed instantly. The
17-year-old driver was treated and released at a nearby hospital
before being interviewed by police. The 14-year-old rear seat
passenger was not injured.
Mitchell, Demuro-Correll, and Lemont were arraigned on charges
of homicide, robbery, and conspiracy. They were booked into the
Monroe County prison without bail. Mitchell was also charged with
prohibited possession of a firearm, and Lemont was charged with
tampering with evidence.
Police: Drug dealer aimed gun at officers before being fatally
shot, sparking riots
November 15, 2020
VANCOUVER, WA – As the investigation further
progresses regarding the officer-involved shooting of Kevin
Peterson Jr. on October 29th, we’re beginning to get a clearer
picture of what transpired on said evening.
We at Law Enforcement Today previously reported on the
preliminary investigation details and riots that stemmed from the
shooting (more on that after the update).
#MarieTyvoll said she was attending Saturday’s protest in
response to the killing of Kevin Peterson Jr. The killing was a
self induced suicide when he pointed a gun at police who responded
properly. Jeez these protesters are really stupid. https://t.co/IhzKbh1r79— NO_socialism (@steve45401)
November 1, 2020
As it turns out, while officials believed that Peterson opened
fire on deputies prior to being shot, newly unveiled details from
investigators suggest that while Peterson may not have opened fire
on deputies – he apparently
pointed a firearm at them prior to being shot.
In a press release from November 10th from officials linked to
the case, the following was noted:
“At this time, detectives do not have evidence that
Peterson fired the handgun while in the U.S. Bank lot, based on
involved deputy interviews. Additionally, no .40 caliber casings
were recovered at the scene.â€
The mentioning of .40 caliber rounds was rather specific, as the
Glock model 23 handgun that the 21-year-old reportedly had in his
possession at the time of the officer-involved shooting carried
said rounds.
Police had initially believed that Peterson had fired two rounds
during the interaction with deputies.
Further investigations of the firearm betrayed that the magazine
was missing one round from the magazine, but it’s unclear if/when
that missing round was spent (if ever).
However, while investigators aren’t sure if Peterson ever
opened fire that fateful evening, his Twitter handle (@_splashkp)
bestowed some rather unsettling attributes about his stance toward
police officers.
Police pull me over Ima just
start shooting before them— KP💲 (@_splashkp)
August 24, 2020
Deputies were pursuing Peterson at the time after the suspect
allegedly partook in a drug deal involving selling Xanax pills to a
law enforcement informant.
When the suspect had showcased he was in possession of a
firearm, investigators say deputies who were initially pursuing
backed off:
“Detectives did not pursue further due to Peterson
being armed and advised other units by radio that Peterson was
armed with a handgun.â€
Peterson was said to have made his way through a wooded area and
then happened upon the U.S. Bank branch parking lot where the fatal
encounter eventually ensued.
Detective Robert Anderson opened fire on Peterson after deputies
on the scene told the suspect to stop in his tracks and Peterson
produced a firearm from his sweatshirt.
Officials say that Detective Anderson fire his weapon due to
concerns over public and deputy safety:
“Deputy Anderson told investigators he believed
Peterson was a threat to the public and to the containment units
coming in front the north.â€
Peterson reportedly went to the ground after Detective Anderson
opened fire.
According to officials, Peterson then sat up and extended his
firearm toward Detectives Jeremy Brown, which led to officers
opening fire on Peterson.
He brandished a firearm at the
first shot, went to the ground – then got up and pointed a
firearm at Detective Jeremy Brown before being fatally shot. It was
also reportedly captured on surveillance footage at the U.S. Bank
branch where it happened.— Greg Hoyt (@GregHoytLET)
November 15, 2020
Reportedly, the instance of Peterson aiming his weapon at
officers prior to him being fatally shot was captured on
surveillance footage at the U.S. Bank branch location.
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One teen dead, one wounded, three arrested in bizarre Pennsylvania
shooting over $120 worth of marijuana appeared first on
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