Randy Root, 38, of Warrington Township.
A Warrington Township man has been found guilty of attempted homicide after he fired a single shot from a shotgun at an Upper Gwynedd Township Police officer during an incident in August 2020.
Randy Root, 38, was found guilty on Thursday via jury trial of attempted homicide, aggravated assault, assault of a law enforcement officer, possession of a firearm, burglary, theft by unlawful taking, and recklessly endangering another person, according to a report by Carl Hessler Jr. at the Pottstown Mercury.
Court records show Root’s trial was scheduled to occur from Feb. 22 through Feb. 27, however the trial wrapped up on Thursday with the jury requiring only 90 minutes of deliberation to render their verdict, according to the report.
According to Hessler’s report, Root showed no visible emotion when the verdict was announced. Root — who chose not to testify and whose defense produced no witnesses for trial — will remain in custody at the county jail as he awaits sentencing later this year, the report states.
Police were initially dispatched to the area of East Prospect Avenue and Hancock Road shortly after noon on Aug. 23, 2020, for a report of a suspicious man roaming in the area. The suspect — later identified as Root — was reportedly asking residents for water and was observed drinking out of nearby water hoses, police said.
When police initially approached Root, he was able to flee from the scene. Police again encountered Root about 45 minutes later, but Root was again able to evade them, police said.
Police located Root a third time in the area of Cathys Lane and Marilyns Lane, as which point Root emerged from behind a home on Cathys Lane, began yelling at one of the responding police officers and fired one shot from a shotgun.
Upper Gwynedd Township Police Chief David Duffy said the shot, which was fired at a distance of about 10 yards (30 feet), missed the officer — later identified as Sgt. Raymond Royds — and Root was subsequently taken into custody. The shotgun, as well as a rifle, were recovered from the area, Duffy said, adding they had been stolen from a home nearby.
No injuries were reported throughout the incident.
Root was taken from the scene to Lansdale Hospital, where he received treatment for detoxing from methamphetamine, Duffy said. He was then placed into custody at the county jail, where he continues to remain as he awaits the scheduling of his sentencing hearing.
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