Two more Norristown residents have been arrested in connection with the late-April fatal shooting of 31-year-old Junior Pinnock.
Hilton Freeman, 21, has been charged with first-degree murder, third-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, illegal possession of a firearm and possessing an instrument of crime, and Asia Jackson, 18, has been charged with hindering apprehension and destroying evidence and tampering with evidence, in connection with the investigation.
According to the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office, Freeman and Jackson fled to Florida following the April 25 shooting, and were subsequently apprehended by U.S. Marshalls on May 10 while staying at a relative’s home in Jacksonville. Both Freeman and Jackson have waived extradition and will be transported back to Pennsylvania to face the charges, the release states.
The arrests of Hilton and Freeman come less than two-weeks after 29-year-old Montez Kent, of Norristown, was charged in connection with the shooting death of Pinnock.
According to the criminal complaint, Norristown Police were dispatched to the intersection of Ann and Barbadoes streets at 9:08 p.m. on April 25 for a report of a male who had been shot. Upon arrival, police found Pinnock suffering from multiple gunshot wounds, the report states.
Pinnock was transported from the scene to Suburban Community Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, according to the report. Investigators at the scene recovered four 9mm bullet casings as well as the sheaf, blade and handle of a long-bladed knife, police said.
An autopsy was later performed, which determined that Pinnock died of multiple gunshot wounds. His manner of death was listed as a homicide.
A joint investigation was launched by the Norristown Police Department and the Montgomery County Detective Bureau, which initially determined through witness interviews and surveillance footage that Pinnock had gone to the area looking for Kent, and when Kent couldn’t be found, Pinnock called him, the report states. A short time later, a dark-colored vehicle parked in a nearby lot and two people — one of which was Kent, the other being Freeman — exited the vehicle and began to fight Pinnock in the street, the report states.
During the fight, Kent allegedly pulled a long-bladed knife from behind his back and lunged at Pinnock, but Pinnock was able to knock the knife away, investigators said. While Kent and Pinnock continued to fight, Freeman allegedly shot Pinnock multiple times, the report states.
Both Kent and Freeman then ran back to their vehicle and fled the scene, according to the report.
Kent was taken into custody three days later and arraigned on the charges by Magisterial District Judge Margaret Hunsicker, who remanded Kent to county jail without bail. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for 1 p.m. on June 3 in front of Magisterial District Judge Greg Scott.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant Chief of Trials Roderick Fancher and Assistant District Attorney William Highland, with the Norristown Community Justice Unit.
All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using court records and the affidavit of probable cause.
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