Man Wanted For April Murder In Montgomery Co. Captured: DA

POTTSTOWN, PA — Authorities have arrested a wanted man charged with the April murder of a Pottstown resident, they announced Wednesday.

Stephen Moore, 32, is now in custody for the shooting death of 25-year-old Joshua Smith, back on April 21, the District Attorney's Office said.

Moore was identified as the suspect and charged within days of the killing, but eluded capture until Tuesday, Dec. 3. A lengthy investigation led investigators and the Montgomery County SWAT Western Region team to a home on the 800 block of N. Charlotte Street, where they took Moore into custody.

The shooting occurred at 12:26 p.m. on April 21 on the 600 block of Industrial Highway.

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Moore and Smith had left Smith's residence together earlier in the day, police said. They made a stop at the Home Depot in Pottstown and bought a screwdriver, and were parked next to a U-Haul truck when the shooting took place, authorities said.

Police did not elaborate on the circumstances leading up to the shooting or why it occurred.

Authorities were responding to a call reporting the shooting when police saw Moore speeding in a silver Jeep, owned by Moore's wife, according to the DA.

Officers followed the Jeep, which crashed near the intersection of High Street and Wilson Street. As they approached, Moore leaped out of the driver's seat and fled the scene on foot.

Smith was found dead of gunshot wounds to the head and neck inside the vehicle. The murder weapon, a Ruger .38 caliber pistol, was recovered inside the Jeep, police said.

Moore has a serious record, having been convicted of aggravated manslaughter in Camden County, New Jersey in 2007 and sentenced to 15 years behind bars. He got out early, but as a result of the conviction, was prohibited from possessing a firearm, so he also faces firearms charges in addition to first degree murder.

No bail was provided due to the murder charge, and Moore was booked at Montgomery County Correctional Facility. A preliminary hearing is set for Dec. 19.