This is a developing story and will be updated as additional information becomes available.
Ring-camera footage recorded at approximately 6:14 p.m. September 13 shows a masked person carrying an object that appears to be a handgun while running across a resident’s property. Image provided to Upper Merion Area Spotlight.
A resident’s Ring camera captured a masked person carrying what appears to be a handgun while chasing another individual through a residential property in Upper Merion Township Sunday evening.
The first of two recordings provided to the Spotlight contains an embedded timestamp of approximately 6:14 p.m. on September 13.
The video initially shows one individual running across the property. Several seconds later, a second person dressed entirely in black, wearing white sneakers and with the lower portion of their face covered, follows in the same direction.
An object resembling a handgun is visible in the second person’s hands. A voice can also be heard threatening to shoot the individual being pursued.
The recording does not show the apparent weapon being fired, anyone being struck or what happened after the two individuals left the camera’s view.
Two additional individuals appear later in the first recording. A second video, which begins shortly after 6:15 p.m., shows two individuals moving through the property and along the nearby roadway.
Resident called 911
The resident told me that she received a notification from her Ring camera at approximately 6:14 p.m. and called 911 after watching the recording.
According to the resident, the dispatcher told her that she was not the only person who had reported the incident and that officers were searching the surrounding area.
An Upper Merion police officer arrived at the home later several hours later that evening and reviewed the recordings. The resident said her husband was told that one person was in custody and that the person who had been pursued was receiving medical treatment.
The Spotlight reviewed the videos but have not confirmed the identities or ages of the people shown, whether the object was a functioning firearm or the nature of any injuries.
Possible connection to charges filed Monday
A court record reviewed by the Spotlight shows that Upper Merion Township Police filed charges Monday against a 20-year-old Bridgeport resident following an incident alleged to have occurred September 13.
The charges include:
Aggravated assault involving a deadly weapon
Simple assault
Terroristic threats with the intent to terrorize another person
Harassment involving threatening or lewd language
The date, arresting agency and nature of the charges appear consistent with the incident captured on the resident’s camera. However, the publicly available court record does not provide a time, location or description of what allegedly occurred.
The Spotlight has not yet independently confirmed that the charges and the recorded chase are connected. For that reason, the defendant’s name and other identifying court information are not being published at this time.
The Spotlight has contacted the Upper Merion Township Police Department seeking confirmation of the connection, whether a firearm was recovered, the extent of any injuries, whether additional individuals are being sought and whether police believe there is any continuing threat to the community.
All charges are allegations. A defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
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Thank you for reading,
Corey