PA Bill Number: HB335
Title: In inchoate crimes, further providing for prohibited offensive weapons.
Description: In inchoate crimes, further providing for prohibited offensive weapons. ...
Last Action: Removed from table
Last Action Date: May 1, 2024
Pennsylvania Self-Defense: Licensed Carrier Defends Himself - Shooting death of Reading teen was justified :: 12/09/2015
Three people -- two 17-year-old boys and an 18-year-old woman -- were charged Monday in connection with a robbery that resulted in the shooting death of a Reading High School student.
Berks County District Attorney John Adams, announcing that the shooting was justified, said the person who opened fire feared for his life while being robbed.
"The death of Daquill Fuller, caused by the victim shooting him, was justifiable homicide and no charges will be filed against the victim, being the individual who as robbed and used deadly force," Adams said.
The shooting took place last Wednesday night in the 1300 block of North 12th Street.
The victim, whose name has not been released, was described as a 23-year-old man who was the target of a random robbery carried out by Fuller and the three suspects charged Monday, according to investigators.
"We have three individuals in custody for that robbery," Adams said. "They are Jaylen Jefferson and Kristan Diaz-Cruz. Both of those individuals are 17 years old, and we just arrested a third person today. Tejona Williams. She is 18 years of age.
L to R: Tejona Williams, Kristan Diaz-Cruz and Jaylen Jefferson
All three suspects were committed to the Berks County Jail on $100,000 bail.
"They have been charged with robbery aggravated assault, simple assault, theft and recklessly endangering another person," Adams said.
Police said the suspects approached the victim from behind and began attacking him. When the they rolled the victim over to search his pockets, they said that's when the victim saw Fuller holding a silver revolver, provided by Williams.
Police said the robbery victim had a license to carry a firearm and that he had no other choice but to use the gun when he was being attacked.
"Victim discharged his firearm, two individuals flee, but Daquill Fuller is still on top, rolling around, involved in beating up our victim," Adams explained. "The victim is then able to use his firearm and shoots Fuller, resulting in Fuller's death.
All four suspects were students at Reading High School.
First Article on this incident:
December 3, 2015
Reading police investigating fatal shooting
http://www.wfmz.com/news/news-regional-berks/Reading-police-investigating-fatal-shooting/36776070
Reading police and the Berks County district attorney's office are trying to determine if a shooting, which left a teenager dead, is justified.
Authorities responded to the intersection of North 12th and Perry streets about 9 p.m. Wednesday for reports of a man shot in the head. Reading police are now investigating the shooting as a homicide. Police also said they found an assault victim at the scene of the shooting.
"It's hard, man. It's hard. Too many young people out here are getting lost too early," said Jeramie DeJesus, who is trying to make sense of another killing in Reading.
DeJesus knew the shooting victim for several years. He was identified by friends as Daquill Fuller, a student at Reading High School.
On Thursday, the district posted a message on its Facebook page. It read, "We have learned one of our Reading High School students passed away last night. The district's crisis team will be available at Reading High School today for students and staff. Please keep the family in your thoughts."
"I always used to fool around with him and we always used to play basketball at the park," said Alex Barrera, who was classmates with Fuller.
Neighbors told 69 News they heard nearly a dozen shots echo up and down the block Wednesday night.
"Then, I got out of my bed and I looked and I seen two people standing here, and then out of nowhere one was laying down," said Angela Lugo, who lives across the street from where the shooting happened.
Lugo said once she saw a man on the ground, she still heard gunshots.
Some of those bullets went through several vehicles on the street.
One woman, who did not want to be identified, said she heard a man screaming for help after being assaulted. He was knocking on her neighbor's door asking for help, but the owner would not let him inside after hearing the shots. She also said she found a gun on her front step.
"That guy that was standing here was covered all in blood and everything too," she said. "This is a quiet neighborhood, never no drama or anything like that."
Neighbors said the assault victim stayed on scene and was taken to the hospital. Investigators would not say if he was the one who shot Fuller, but neighbors heard him say, "It was self-defense."
Authorities are working to determine whether the shooting is a criminal homicide or a justifiable homicide.
Counselors were on hand Thursday at Reading High School to help students cope with the loss of their classmate.
An autopsy is scheduled for Thursday night.
A memorial for Fuller grew throughout the day. Friends stopped by to light candles, drop off a basketball and stuffed animals. A poster board was attached to a pole, which read, "RIP Doc," and another note said, "Rest easy Dockey. Slam dunk in heaven!"
"I give my condolences to his parents, to his mother and everybody you know. It's just hard, really hard," DeJesus said.
District Attorney John Adams said he planned to release more information Friday.
