Pennsylvania Teen Charged as Adult in Fatal Shooting of Homeless Man

Thomas James Niarhos, 15, is facing first-degree murder charges after allegedly shooting Jeremiah Waylon Hawkins in the face during an argument.

15-year-old Thomas James Niarhos has been charged as an adult with first-degree murder in the fatal shooting of a homeless man, Jeremiah Waylon Hawkins, in Pennsylvania.
Hawkins was fatally shot in the face after an argument escalated between him and Niarhos, during which Hawkins swung a tire at Niarhos who was holding a gun.
Niarhos shot Hawkins twice before dropping the weapon and attempting to walk away, but was detained by bystanders until police arrived.
The firearm used in the shooting, a .40 caliber Smith & Wesson semi-automatic, was found at the scene and is believed to belong to Niarhos's father.
Niarhos is currently being held at the Montgomery County Youth Center, with a preliminary hearing scheduled for November 30, 2023.