Phila. man charged with murder in Montco death

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

Ryan Starling of the 2600 block of North Seventh Street allegedly shot Lawrence Stevenson, 26, in the back outside the Curren Terrace Apartments on New Hope Street about 9:45, the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office said yesterday.

Stevenson was pronounced dead later that night at Montgomery Hospital.

Police found Starling in a nearby parking lot, sweating profusely despite the frigid weather and in possession of three bags of cocaine, the statement said. Witnesses told police that they had seen Starling fleeing the scene, the District Attorney's Office said. - Derrick Nunnally