Philadelphia man charged in Norristown murder

A 21-year-old man from the Fairhill section of Philadelphia has been charged with first-degree murder in a slaying last night in Norristown.

Ryan Starling, of the 2600 block of N. 7th Street, allegedly shot Lawrence Stevenson in the back outside the Curren Terrace Apartments on New Hope Street in Norristown at about 9:45 p.m., the Montgomery County District Attorney's office said today in a statement.

Stevenson, whose age was not cited in court records, was pronounced dead last night at Montgomery Hospital.

Police found Starling in a nearby parking lot, sweating profusely despite the frigid weather, and in possession of three baggies of cocaine, the statement said. Witnesses also told police that they had seen Starling fleeing the murder scene, the statement said.

Starling is to be arraigned this afternoon before Magisterial District Judge Francis Lawrence Jr.