Crime & Safety

Driver In Montco Bowling Alley Shooting Charged

The man who police said drove the accused killer from the scene of the shooting last week has been taken into custody.

(Patch file photo)

EAST NORRITON, PA — The man who police said drove the accused killer from the scene of the fatal Montgomery County bowling alley shooting last week has been taken into custody.

Raymir Johnson, 20, of Lansdowne, was one of the two men who entered the Our Town Alley on Saturday evening with Jamel Barnwell, according to police. The District Attorney's Office said that Barnwell was the one who opened fire on another group of men following a brief argument, killing one and injuring four others.

The trio arrived to the alley at around 6:39 p.m. By 6:42 p.m., an argument with the other group had escalated to physical violence, with Johnson taking a handgun out of his jacket, according to the criminal complaint.

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As a crowd of some 50 to 75 other people, including many children, stood nearby watching, Johnson opened fire, police said. Video surveillance shows Frank Wade, 29, being hit and falling to the ground. Johnson then fires several more shots at Wade as he attempts to crawl away to safety, the complaint states.

After the shooting, Johnson, Barnwell, and another man, who has not yet been identified, fled the scene in Johnson's vehicle. He's been charged with two counts of hindering apprehension and prosecution.

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Witness interviews and video surveillance helped police identify both individuals, although the pair also left their cell phones behind at the scene after the shooting.

Bail for Johnson was set at $250,000. He did not post bail and was booked at Montgomery County Correctional Facility.

A preliminary hearing for Johnson is set for March 8.

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