Boy charged with assault in trail incident
A teenager involved in a confrontation on the Schuylkill River Trail last week that ended in gunfire has been charged with assault, and authorities said today that they found a "bicycle chop shop" at his home.
A teenager involved in a confrontation on the Schuylkill River Trail last week that ended in gunfire has been charged with assault, and authorities said today that they found a "bicycle chop shop" at his home.
Last Wednesday night, 27-year-old Joseph James DePaul Jr. of Norristown reported that he fired six shots from a semiautomatic pistol at two teenagers who harassed and assaulted him on the trail in Plymouth Township, police said. DePaul was charged with two counts each of attempted murder, voluntary and involuntary manslaughter, aggravated assault, and reckless endangerment.
One of the teens, a 17-year-old from Norristown who was not named, was charged yesterday in juvenile court with simple assault, and was being held pending a disposition hearing.
Police found 15 to 20 bikes and assorted wheels and bike parts at the home of the teen's father, where it appears the boy was operating a "bicycle chop shop," Ferman said.
Ferman declined to say whether any of the bikes at the home had been reported stolen. She said an investigation was continuing, and asked the public's help in identifying the bikes.
Contact staff writer Liz Wagner at 610-313-8110 or lwagner@phillynews.com.
