Man Charged With Voluntary Manslaughter In Connection With Montco Church Shooting
By Jim Melwert
NORRISTOWN, Pa. (CBS) -- A Lansdale man is facing charges in connection with a fatal shooting that happened inside the Keystone Fellowship Church as people were sitting down for Sunday services.
According to witness statements to police, it started when the victim of the shooting, 27-year-old Robert Braxton the third, was told he'd sat in someone else's seat.
When he cursed at the ushers, they let him stay in the seat.
But that's when police say 46-year-old Mark Storms of Lansdale walked over to Braxton. He told Braxton to leave, showing him a badge that says "concealed weapons permit" which he had apparently ordered online.
Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele says, "Braxton then took a swing at the shooter, punching him in the jaw and the defendant shoots the victim twice."
Steele says Storms' shooting of Braxton was not a reasonable self-defense situation, so Storms is now charged with Voluntary Manslaughter and Reckless Endangerment.
It was an intensive investigation with more than 50 witnesses interviewed. Estimates say there were between 250 and 300 people in the church when the incident took place.
"The gun being brought into the situation escalated it and then the victim reacted to that and then the defendant shot him twice," Steele said. "This has been a tragic situation for so many people."
CBS 3's Greg Argos contributed to this report.
