NORRISTOWN — Three men, two from Norristown and one from Philadelphia, will have to go to Montgomery County Court to face charges for allegedly taking part in the robbery of a man who was shot and killed during the incident.
Damon Brantley Jr., 18, of the 1000 block of West Beech Street, Norristown, Daquan Tyrone Allen, 29, of the 500 block of Norris Street, Norristown, and Jerry Lamar Butler, 29, of the 500 block of East Clarkson Avenue, Philadelphia, were held for trial on homicide and robbery related charges after a 3½ hour preliminary hearing on Friday before District Court Judge Todd N. Barnes, in connection with the alleged Jan. 20, 2024, robbery and fatal shooting of William Carter in the unit block of West Wood Street in Norristown.
Barnes decided that prosecutors had enough evidence during the hearing to proceed with the trials for the three men.
Brantley, who is believed to have pulled the trigger, is facing first- and second-degree murder charges, as well as charges of robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery, and multiple weapons offenses.
Butler and Allen, who are believed to be the getaway driver, are each facing second-degree murder, robbery, and conspiracy to commit robbery charges.
First-degree murder, which is an intentional killing, and second-degree murder, a killing that happens during the course of a felony like robbery, come with mandatory life prison terms if convicted.
The preliminary hearing for the three men was held at the courthouse instead of at Barnes’ smaller district court office due to space and security concerns.
The victim's family and friends, as well as supporters of the accused, packed the courtroom, while many other Norristown residents who couldn't enter lingered outside. The defendants' supporters shouted and joked with the three men, and took photos with their cellphones as the trio was escorted by the sheriff’s deputies to and from the courtroom.
“I’m coming home,” Butler said with a smile at one point.
“I’m innocent,” Brantley told a reporter, while Allen shouted an expletive at the reporter.
A large group of county sheriff’s deputies and Norristown police were present and kept order as spectators shouted at each other as they left the courthouse after the hearing.
