Caregiver Accused of Shooting Elderly Man with Special Needs Strikes Plea Deal with Prosecutors

A caregiver from Philadelphia who was facing an aggravated assault charge after police said he recklessly discharged a round from his recently purchased handgun, striking a 71-year-old man with special needs who was in his care, recently struck a plea agreement with prosecutors.

As part of the plea agreement, 27-year-old Kashaan Moses has entered a guilty to plea to simple assault — a second-degree misdemeanor. In exchange, the more serious felony aggravated assault charge has been withdrawn, along with a misdemeanor count of reckless endangerment.

Court records show sentencing was deferred, pending a pre-sentencing evaluation. Moses faces up to two years in county jail, as well as a fine up to $5,000 on the simple assault charge.

According to the criminal complaint, police were dispatched to a home along the 600 block of Rosemont Avenue in Upper Gwynedd at 8:03 a.m. on April 10, 2021, for a report of a shooting. Police said the home is operated as a community living and home support site for adults with special needs, and is owned by Jewish Employment and Vocation Services (JEVS).

Upon arrival, police found a caregiver — identified as Moses — flagging them down and directing them to an elderly gunshot wound victim who was seated in a chair in the front room of the home, according to the criminal complaint. The victim was unresponsive and had been struck by a single bullet just below his left eye, police said. The victim was treated on scene by emergency medical personnel, then transported via ambulance to Abington Memorial Hospital and later Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia for treatment.

The report states that in both the 9-1-1 call and statements made at the scene, Moses said the shooting was unintentional.

In an interview with investigators, Moses stated that he arrived at the home at 11 p.m. on April 9, 2021, to begin his overnight shift. Upon arrival, Moses said he brought his newly purchased Glock 17 9mm handgun and holster into the home because he didn’t want to leave the gun in the car overnight and he wanted to adjust the holster, the report states.

The following morning, towards the end of his shift, Moses said he was sitting on the couch watching TV with the victim while also attempting to unload the firearm, the report states. Moses said that as he racked the slide back to ensure no round was in the chamber, the firearm discharged and struck the victim, according to the complaint.

Moses told investigators that he did not believe that he pulled the trigger, but he could not provide any other viable reason for the discharge, the report states.

As a result of the incident, the victim remains hospitalized over a prolonged period, and has since had his left eye surgically removed. The victim also required a stent being placed in his carotid artery and he has suffered both an aneurysm and a stroke, according to the complaint.

Medical staff told police that all of the injuries were a direct result of the shooting. The victim will likely require nursing home care for the remainder of his life, the report states.

Records indicate that Moses obtained a permit to carry a concealed firearm in Philadelphia on Feb. 25, 2021, then purchased the Glock 17 firearm on April 3, 2021. Moses told investigators that he had only shot a gun one time — more than a year prior to the shooting, the report states. Moses added that he had not undergone any firearm safety courses prior to the April 10, 2021, incident, according to the report.

Representatives from JEVS said there were no prior complaints about Moses’ behavior. They also confirmed that there was a “no weapons” policy, which Moses was aware of having signed the form during his employment orientation in April 2014, according to the complaint.

“In my experience, the more a person claims that he or she is capable of safely retaining, storing, and handling a firearm, the less likely that is to be true,” said Upper Gwynedd Police Chief David Duffy, following the incident. “My heart goes out to the victim and his family. The injuries suffered by the victim are truly horrible and will seriously affect him for the rest of his life.” 

Moses turned himself in on May 19, 2021, at the Upper Gwynedd Police Station. As Moses approached the police department to turn himself in, he was asked by both North Penn Now and NBC 10's Deanna Durante if he had anything to say to the victim or the victim's family, however Moses remained quiet and did not respond to our request for comment.

Following Moses’ arrest, Duffy stated that should the victim die as a result of the shooting, investigators will pursue upgraded charges against Moses. When reached for comment Tuesday morning, Duffy provided an additional statement.

“The DA’s Office approved the plea conditions and I support the DA’s staff’s discretion,” said Duffy. “Of course, if anything changes going forward, we will re-evaluate. This was a particularly tragic case all around.”

A sentencing hearing for Moses has not yet been scheduled. They typically occur between 60 to 90 days following a guilty plea.

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