NORRISTOWN, PA – A 16-year-old Norristown boy has been arrested and charged as an adult with first-degree murder following a fatal shooting during a large fight between two groups of teenagers on Wednesday night.
Fatal Shooting Follows Dispersed Fights
According to the Montgomery County authorities, the incident unfolded around 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 3, along the 500 block of West Marshall Street. Officials stated that two groups of teenagers had repeatedly moved locations throughout the evening to evade local police presence before a physical altercation broke out.
During the confrontation, 15-year-old Javon Oyola was shot in the head. Responding officers discovered Oyola lying in Haws Alley off George Street. He was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. Both the victim and the suspect were students at Norristown Area High School.
Evidence and Arrest Details
Investigators recovered a cell phone at the crime scene, which was later traced to the suspect, Alex Herrera, 16. Surveillance footage and social media videos also showed Herrera fleeing north on George Street immediately after the gunfire while holding his waistband.
According to the criminal complaint, Herrera admitted to detectives that he brought a Glock 23 handgun to the fight, which he claimed he bought illegally in May. Herrera stated he fired the weapon after being assaulted by multiple individuals during the brawl. Authorities executed a search warrant to recover the firearm, but the weapon has not yet been found.
Herrera faces multiple adult charges, including:
- First-Degree Murder
- Third-Degree Murder
- Possession of a Firearm by a Minor
- Carrying a Firearm Without a License
School and Community Impact
Following the incident, Norristown Area High School was placed on a precautionary lockdown on Thursday due to heightened student emotions. The school district transitioned students to virtual learning on Friday out of an abundance of caution, though officials confirmed no weapons were ever brought onto the campus.
Herrera is currently being held without bail at the Montgomery County Youth Center. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 12.
