Dominic Carboni, 17, of Schwenksville.
A Schwenksville teen has been arrested on charges of first-degree murder in connection with the shooting deaths of two Pottsgrove High School students Monday night.
Dominic Carboni, 17, has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder, second-degree murder, third-degree murder and robbery, in connection with the incident.
County dispatch received multiple 9-1-1 calls at 11:33 p.m. on Oct. 17 regarding shots fired in the area of Fourth and Johnson streets in Pottstown. Arriving police located the bodies of a 17-year-old Skyler Fox, of Stowe, and 18-year-old Brandon Bacote-Byer, of Lower Pottsgrove, lying outside of a vehicle belonging to Fox.
Investigators said they recovered 10 shell casings, one projectile and a 9mm handgun with the serial number obliterated at the scene. A release from the district attorney’s office stated that a witness observed Fox with a backpack on his shoulder as he crawled away from his vehicle, but minutes later the backpack was missing, and Fox was no longer moving.
No backpack was recovered at the scene, according to the district attorney’s office.
Investigators said they recovered text data indicating that Fox and Carboni had arranged to meet to purchase marijuana, and cell phone data showed both Box’s and Carboni’s cellphones were in the area at the time the shooting occurred. Less than 20 minutes after the shooting, Carboni allegedly deleted his message history with Fox.
Video surveillance recovered by police showed a maroon-colored Ford pickup truck fleeing the area of the shooting. Investigators said the vehicle matched a truck belonging to Carboni’s father, and Carboni was seen driving the truck earlier in the evening.
“This is another senseless killing of two teenagers over drugs, committed by a 17-year-old defendant who, for a variety of reasons, could not legally possess a gun. It is a tragedy for these families, and it’s got to stop,” said Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele. “We are working diligently to go after people who buy guns and sell them to kids, sell them to convicted felons and sell them to others who can’t legally buy their own guns.”
Carboni was arraigned Thursday night by District Judge Patty Zaffarano, and he was subsequently remanded to the county youth center as there is no bail available on charges of first-degree murder. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Nov. 3 at 11 a.m. in front of District Judge Scott Palladino.
All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using court records and the affidavit of probable cause. This story was updated to reflect the child's current custody status.
See also:
Officials Identify Teens Killed in Double Homicide Monday Night in Montco
Two Teens Killed in Double Homicide in Montco Monday Night
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Montco Man Arrested on Dozens of Child Porn Charges
Montco Man Charged with Homicide by Vehicle While DUI After Victim Dies Years After Turnpike Crash
