15-Year-Old Charged with Murder of Homeless Man Accused of Raping Girlfriend: Thomas James Niarhos Arrested in Pottstown Shooting

Accident – Death – Obituary News : A tragic incident unfolded in Pennsylvania, as a 15-year-old boy has been charged with the murder of a man accused of raping his 16-year-old girlfriend. The accused teenager, Thomas James Niarhos from Stowe, was charged with first-degree murder in the death of Jeremiah Waylon Hawkins, a 39-year-old homeless man. The incident occurred in Pottstown, and police arrived at the scene shortly after noon to find Hawkins with a gunshot wound to the head.

Eyewitnesses immediately detained Niarhos, who was taken into police custody without delay, according to Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin R. Steele. At the crime scene, officers discovered a .40 caliber Smith & Wesson semi-automatic firearm, which was later determined to belong to Niarhos’ father, Tom Niarhos.

Thomas James Niarhos is the son of Tom Niarhos, who works as the executive director of the homeless advocacy group Beacon of Hope. The elder Niarhos, a prominent figure in the community, expressed his devastation over the incident. Speaking exclusively to DailyMail.com, he conveyed his condolences to Hawkins’ family, describing the event as a tragedy.

The homeless advocacy group, Beacon of Hope, provides emergency shelter and a warming center for homeless individuals in the area. Tom Niarhos has been leading the charity for the past three years, having previously experienced homelessness himself.

Investigators believe that the motive for the shooting may be related to an alleged assault on Niarhos’ girlfriend four months earlier. In July, Niarhos had reported to the police that Hawkins had allegedly raped his 16-year-old girlfriend. However, the girl’s family did not cooperate with the investigation, and her mother expressed the desire not to press charges.

According to witness accounts and surveillance footage, Niarhos and Hawkins were seen arguing near each other prior to the shooting. It is alleged that Niarhos extended his arm towards Hawkins, who responded by throwing a tire at him. Despite the altercation, Niarhos fired a single shot at Hawkins’ face, causing him to fall to the ground. He then allegedly fired another shot before discarding the firearm and walking away. Bystanders detained Niarhos until the authorities arrived.

During Niarhos’ transportation to the police station, an officer’s body camera recorded him yelling at the first responders who were trying to save Hawkins. He shouted, “He’s a rapist, don’t feel sorry for him… he raped a 15-year-old girl, don’t help him.”

One of Hawkins’ former roommates, Anthony Colavecci, who is also homeless, expressed his sadness over the incident. Colavecci revealed that Hawkins, who had recently struggled with drug addiction, had been there for him in a time of need. He recounted how Hawkins insisted on calling an ambulance when Colavecci slipped in the bathroom, potentially saving his life. Colavecci admitted that despite his initial indifference, he recognized that many people would miss Hawkins, including himself.

Upon receiving a distressing phone call from a friend, Tom Niarhos rushed to the scene of the crime, where detectives showed him a photo of the recovered firearm. He identified it as his own, stating that it had been missing from his locked nightstand in his bedroom.

An autopsy performed by Dr. Khalil Wardak, a forensic pathologist with the Montgomery County Coroner’s Office, confirmed that Hawkins had suffered a close-range gunshot wound to the side of his face. The cause of death was determined to be a gunshot wound to the head, resulting in a homicide.

Thomas James Niarhos now faces charges as an adult, including first-degree murder, third-degree murder, and possession of a firearm as a minor. He was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Margaret Hunsicker on November 22, 2023, and has been remanded to the Montgomery County Youth Center. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for November 30, 2023, before Magisterial District Judge Scott T. Palladino..