Death Penalty Sought in Kevin Allen Homicide

Chester County District Attorney Tom Hogan announced Thursday that the state will seek the death penalty against Shakeem Carter, the Norristown man accused of the brutal murder of 17-year-old Kevin Allen on Feb. 12.

"The decision to pursue the death penalty is reserved for the most serious crimes and is only reached after careful deliberations," Hogan stated in a release. "After consultation with the police and the victim's family, this decision is based upon the circumstances surrounding the murder of this young man."

Hogan listed three aggravating factors that contributed to his decision to pursue the death penalty:

• The offense was committed by means of torture;
• The murder was committed while in the perpetration of a felony;
• Carter created a grave risk of death to another person in the commission of the crime.

Carter is accused of killing Allen at the Hanover Garden Apartments in North Coventry, Pa. on the evening Feb. 12 in the course of robbing him of $350 given to him by his father to buy clothing. Allen's body was discovered in a blood-soaked apartment after police responded to a 9-1-1 call from a neighbor who heard a "terrible struggle" next door. Officers responding to the scene found the apartment engulfed in flames and firefighters were dispatched to deal with the blaze. 

Allen's body was discovered in the apartment and authorities say he had been stabbed more than 20 times, his throat had been cut and his body had been set on fire to cover up the crime. Police recovered evidence from the scene including several kitchen knives and several empty bottles of cooking oil, all with blood on them.

Carter was arrested for the crime after video surveillance confirmed the two had taken a bus from Norristown to Pottstown the night of the murder and other physical evidence and witness testimony pointed to his involvement.

You can download the notice of intent to seek the death penalty in our PDF section and read more about the case against Carter here.

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