A 13-year-old has been charged following an investigation into the shooting death of a 16-year-old in Norristown on Sept. 22, 2026, the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office announced on Thursday.
The 16-year-old, identified as William Boyd, was shot and killed inside a home in the 800 block of Arch Street around 10:30 a.m. on Sept. 22, 2026. The D.A.’s Office said Thursday that 13-year-old Daniel Hawkins-Boyce recklessly fired a firearm and shot Boyd once in the head.
Investigators said that a family member of Hawkins-Boyce told police at the scene that the teen had found a handgun by a trash can and had been playing with it, according to the D.A.’s Office. Police also recovered a Ruger .380 handgun that was reported stolen out of Philadelphia on June 3, 2026, at the scene.
Hawkins-Boyce has been charged with third-degree murder and related charges in adult court, but the D.A.’s Office said that the case could be moved to juvenile court in the future.
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“In these types of cases, we have to look at the totality of the circumstances, and in this case, the evidence clearly showed that the defendant recklessly fired the firearm at the victim, fatally striking him,” said Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele. “Despite the child’s age Pennsylvania law requires us to charge the defendant in adult court, but we anticipate that the Court will review whether or not the case will remain in adult or move to juvenile court.”
Hawkins-Boyce’s bail has been set at $200,000 and his next court date is Oct. 14, the D.A.s Office said.