ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Three teenagers have been charged in a Center City shooting last December that sent one man to the hospital, Lehigh County prosecutors announced Tuesday.
Lehigh County District Attorney Gavin Holihan linked the assault to a carjacking that occurred moments later at Trexler Middle School and a stolen vehicle investigation in Palmer Township the same day.
Allentown police have charged Marquee Carney, 16, of Allentown; Naseer Washington, 16, of Whitehall Township; and Amir Sims-Watson, 17, of Easton.
A surveillance camera recorded someone lean out the window and open fire with an AR-style pistol at people walking down the street, according to the release. Sims-Watson then stepped out of the Jeep and began firing at pedestrians.Lehigh County District Attorney's office release
Each faces counts of aggravated assault, discharging a firearm into an occupied structure, simple assault, possession of a firearm by a minor and reckless endangerment.
Sims-Watson also is charged with robbery, robbery of a motor vehicle, receiving stolen property and other charges, according to a news release.
Authorities said a stolen black Jeep Cherokee from Nazareth pulled up to 9th and Allen streets at 4:37 p.m. Dec. 7.
A surveillance camera recorded someone lean out the window and open fire with an AR-style pistol at people walking down the street, according to the release.
Investigators said Sims-Watson then stepped out of the Jeep and began firing at pedestrians.
Police said dozens of shell casings were collected at the scene and that multiple buildings were struck by the salvo.
Other incidents, victim seeks help
Authorities said one person, whom because of fear of retaliation they are not identifying, sought medical treatment for a gunshot wound.
Officials provided no details regarding the severity of his injuries.
A short while later, a woman at Trexler Middle School a mile away unloading her truck was robbed at gunpoint by Sims-Watson, police said. He took the woman's phone and Nissan Pathfinder, police said.
Police later located the Pathfinder in Wilson. Inside, they found shell casings and a cell phone that did not belong to the victim, according to the release.
Investigators later determined the phone belonged to Sims-Watson's brother; it contained messages and photos about the shooting and the carjacking, police said.
Palmer Township police later recovered the AR-style pistol while investigating a report of a stolen vehicle from the same day, according to the release.
Multiple people have been charged with gun offenses from that case, according to the release, but no details were provided.
Washington is in Northampton County Prison on unrelated robbery charges. Sims-Watson and Carney are currently being in Lehigh County Jail after being unable to post bail.
