From left to right: Micah Colbert, 19, of Ardmore, Dorian Harris, 21, of Ardmore, and Elijah Smith, 21, of Philadelphia.
The Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office announced on Sunday night the arrest of three men in connection with shooting death of 21-year-old Layth Evans in Lower Merion on Saturday afternoon.
Micah Colbert, 19, of Ardmore, and Elijah Smith, 21, of Philadelphia, have been charged with first-degree murder, robbery and related offenses, in connection with the incident. A third man, 21-year-old Dorian Harris, of Ardmore, has been charged with unlawful transfer of a firearm, in connection with the shooting.
Lower Merion Police were dispatched to the 100 block of Ardmore Avenue at 3 p.m. on July 10 for a report of an unconscious male in a vehicle. Arriving officers found a male — later identified as Evans — seated in the driver’s seat of a Nissan with a gunshot wound to the face. He was pronounced dead at the scene by Narberth Ambulance personnel.
Investigators recovered $500 from the driver’s side floorboard, as well as 9mm shell casing from the backseat floor of the vehicle.
An autopsy was performed on Sunday, which determined that the cause of death was a gunshot wound to the face and the manner of death was homicide. Subsequently, a joint investigation was launched by the Montgomery County Detective Bureau and the Lower Merion Police Department.
Through eyewitness accounts, video surveillance, text messages and cellphone records, investigators determined that Colbert and Smith arranged a meeting with Evans in order to purchase a “ghost gun” from him, according to the district attorney’s office. At the meet, Colbert allegedly used a Glock firearm that belonged to Harris to shoot Evans in the face, according to the criminal complaint.
At 6 p.m. on Saturday, Harris went to the Lower Merion Police Station to report that his Glock 19 handgun had been taken and used by his roommate — identified as Colbert, police said. Harris then turned the weapon over to police, and investigators also recovered the “ghost gun” that belonged to the victim, according to the criminal complaint.
All three suspects are awaiting arraignment on the charges. Though Harris is eligible for bail, Colbert and Smith will be remanded to county jail as first-degree murder charges do not allow for bail.
All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using court records and the affidavit of probable cause.
See also:
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Montgomery Township Man Charged After Attacking Police Officer, Resisting Arrest, Police Say
Man Accused Of Stealing Multiple North Penn Area Identities, Cashing $31,000 In Fraudulent Checks
One Towamencin Officer Injured After Man Speeds Off From Traffic Stop, Police Say
