Investigators with the Lansdale Borough Police Department have made a second arrest in connection with the random assault of a man who was walking home from the St. Stan’s Fair in August.
Terhan Wright, 18, of Hatfield Township, has been charged with two felony counts of conspiracy to commit aggravated assault, as well as misdemeanor counts of simple assault and related conspiracy offenses, in connection with the Aug. 10 incident.
Wright, who was 17 at the time of the incident, is the second juvenile to be charged as an adult in connection with the alleged assault. Last month, 16-year-old Marquis Smith, of Lansdale, was charged with felony counts of aggravated assault – attempt to cause serious bodily injury with extreme indifference and aggravated assault – attempt to cause bodily injury with a deadly weapon, along with misdemeanor charges of simple assault, recklessly endangering another person and possession of an instrument of crime, in connection with the investigation.
Police identified Smith as the lead person in the assault, stating that Smith had pistol-whipped the victim before punching and kicking him on the ground. (Read about Smith’s arrest here.)
Police were dispatched to the Oak Wood Garden Apartments, located along the 400 block of East Main Street, at 9:35 p.m. for a report of a fight in progress. Arriving officers encountered an adult male victim on the ground suffering from two swollen eyes and a bleeding laceration, who stated that he had been "jumped” and pistol whipped by a group of teens as he and his girlfriend were walking home from the St. Stan’s fair.
The victim was transported from the scene via ambulance to Lansdale Hospital, where he was diagnosed with an orbital fracture, traumatic injury of head, facial laceration, facial contusion, and multiple abrasions, according to the criminal complaint.
The following day, investigators took a recorded statement from the victim, who said he and his girlfriend were walking through the parking lot of the apartment complex when a group of approximately 10 people began yelling "do we have a problem,” the report states. The victim stated that the group began to follow him and his girlfriend, and when he turned around, he saw Smith with a gun in his waistband, according to the complaint.
The victim said he put his hands in the air, at which point Smith allegedly struck him in the right side of his head with the gun, causing the victim to fall to the ground. The victim said he was then kicked and punched in the head, hand and shoulder while on the ground, the report states.
Investigators pulled security footage from the apartment complex, which showed a group of five Black males and one white male with Smith as he followed the victim, police said. The group then attacked the victim for no apparent reason, police said.
The complaint states that the five Black males and one white male were believed to be between 16 and 17 years old. However, police told North Penn Now that they have been unable to identify the others involved, aside from Smith and Wright.
Police said Wright was positively identified by a witness. Surveillance footage showed Wright actively punching and kicking the victim while he was on the ground, according to the criminal complaint.
The other four teens remain unidentified at this time, however police are continuing their investigation, the report states.
Wright was arraigned on Sept. 16 by District Judge Ed Levine, who set bail at $25,000 unsecured. He was then released from custody, and his next court appearance is a preliminary hearing on Oct. 20 at 11:30 a.m.
Court records indicate that Smith, who was remanded to county jail after failing to post $10,000 cash bail on Aug. 18, was released after posting bail on Aug. 23.
All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using court records and the affidavit of probable cause.
See also:
Second Drug Raid on West Fifth Street Home Leads to Arrest of Same Couple from First Drug Raid
Woman Arrested After Breaking into Upper Gwynedd Home, Police Say
Man Charged After Attacking Paramedics, Wielding Knife, Police Say
Woman Charged with Child Endangerment After Taking Toddler on Drug Run to Kensington, Police Say
