A fourth arrest has been made in connection with the April shooting death of 31-year-old Junior Pinnock in Norristown, after investigators located the firearm used in the shooting in a local park.
Sincere Burnett, 21, of Norristown, has been charged with making a straw purchase of firearms, providing false statements to investigators, carrying a concealed firearm without a permit and related offenses, in connection with the investigation.
A “straw purchase” is when a person with a clean background purchases firearms specifically on behalf of another person to conceal the true ownership of the firearm.
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 29-year-old Montez Kent, of Norristown, 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 21-year-old Hilton Freeman, also of Norristown — 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 arrested three days later and charged with first-and-third-degree murder. Freeman fled to Florida with 18-year-old Asia Jackson, however both were taken into custody by U.S. Marshals on May 10.
Freeman was subsequently charged with first-and-third-degree murder and related offenses, and Jackson was charged with hindering apprehension and tampering with evidence.
After locating the firearm, which was identified as a Sarsilmaz 9mm handgun, investigators traced the serial number and discovered that Burnett had purchased it on March 22 under the direction of Freeman, according to the criminal complaint. Freeman is prohibited from purchasing, owning or carrying a firearm, police said.
“We have recently arrested a number of people for straw purchasing firearms and for running gun trafficking organizations that deal in straw purchases, both of which arm criminals,” said Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele. “This murder of Junior Pinnock by Hilton Freeman using a straw purchased gun shows exactly what the ramifications are of straw purchased firearms. We knew it was only a matter of time before a murder happened using a gun we could directly trace to a straw purchase. And now here we are.”
Investigators said Burnett had purchased a total of four handguns, however they have recovered only two of them. Burnett was arrested at a gun store in Montgomery County on Thursday, where he was looking at additional firearms.
Burnett was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Marc Alfarano, who set bail at $500,000 cash. Burnett was then taken to county jail after failing to post, and his next court appearance is a preliminary hearing on June 7 at 1:30 p.m. in front of Judge Alfarano.
Kent and Freeman remain at the county jail without bail. Jackson remains free on $50,000 unsecured bail, according to court records.
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.
See also:
Two More Arrested In Connection With April Shooting In Norristown
Montco Man Charged With Murder In Death Of Norristown Man On Sunday Night
Philadelphia Man Charged With Murder In Connection With Shooting Death Of Ebony Pack In Lansdale
Bucks County Man Accused Of Drive-By Shooting With BB Gun At Home In New Britain Borough
Homicide Investigation Launched, Victim Identified After Body Found Inside Vehicle In Montco
