Walker Firm Results: Commonwealth vs. Rashaan Stevenson

Split Verdict Of Two Men In Norristown Fatal Home Invasion

The jury acquitted a Reading man in slaying and the jury could not reach a verdict for a Harleysville man.

NORRISTOWN _ A 35-year-old Reading man was acquitted Friday night in Montgomery County Court in the April 3, 2019 home invasion robbery and slaying of a 28-year-old Norristown man.


Rashaan A. Stevenson was found not guilty of first- and third-degree murder in the fatal shooting of Alonzo J. Anthony, 28, of the 300 block of East Fornance Street.


The jury was unable to reach a verdict for the co-defendant, Brandon Thompson, 35, of Harleysville, Montgomery County, on charges of conspiring to commit second-degree murder and related charges.


As a result, Judge William R. Carpenter declared a mistrial.


The jury deliberated for nearly 16 hours over two days.


The victim died of a gunshot wound to the head, according to the results of an autopsy conducted by a Montgomery County forensic pathologist.


According to court records:


Norristown police and Montgomery County detectives responded to reports of gunshots and screaming on April 2, 2019 in the 300 block of East Fornance Street.


Marquita Griffin, 23, said she was in the apartment when two armed, masked men entered.
Police accused Thompson and Stevenson of wearing masks and firing shots that struck and killed Anthony before fleeing with cash, marijuana and a cellphone.


Two children in the house at the time were not injured, police said.


Griffin told police that the masked men stole Anthony's cellphone, cash and marijuana.
Detectives collected bullet casings, a hat and other evidence.


A state police forensic DNA analysis concluded that the hat belonged to Thompson.
Investigators traced a cell phone used the day of the homicide to Thompson.

Share by: