Pa. shooting that left woman paralyzed leads to gun trafficking bust, DA says

A gas station shooting that left a young woman paralyzed led to the arrest of three men — including a suspect in a gang-related murder — and a gun trafficking bust in Montgomery County, investigators said.

The shooting occurred on Jan. 4, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. at the Shell Gas Station on the 1700 block of Markley Street in Norristown. Surveillance video showed a silver Honda Accord turning into the parking lot. Two men – later identified as Ziyker Washington, 20, and Benjamin Lee, 18, both of Norristown – exited the vehicle and walked into the convenience store where Washington bought an item, investigators said.

The two men then returned to the Honda at the gas pumps and Lee began taken pictures of Washington, according to officials. Washington then spotted a black Cadillac SUV. Police said Washington took out a gun and opened fire at the Cadillac. The driver of the Cadillac – a 22-year-old man — then fled the scene, according to the criminal complaint. Both Washington and Lee then fled the gas station in the Honda, police said.

About 10 minutes later, police responded to the 1600 block of Powell Street in Norristown for a report of a shooting. When they arrived, they found the 22-year-old driver of the Cadillac who had been shot in the thigh as well as a 21-year-old woman who had been shot in the back and was lying on a lawn. A 16-year-old boy who had suffered an injury to his finger was also at the scene.

The man and woman were both taken to the hospital. Officials said the 21-year-old woman was paralyzed due to her injuries.

Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office

L to R: Surveillance image of the gas station where the shooting took place, a photo of the two weapons that were recovered.

Police obtained the surveillance video of the shooting from the gas station and located the photo Lee took of Washington through the suspect’s iCloud account after obtaining a search warrant, officials said.

Investigators said Washington was also one of three suspects in the murder of 19-year-old Hamid Boyd back on Nov. 30, 2025, in Norristown, which police said was sparked by an ongoing feud between rival gangs.

On Jan. 12, Washington and Lee were both arrested at a home in Philadelphia on outstanding warrants. During the search, police found a Glock 23 .40 caliber firearm and a Springfield XDM 10mm handgun, investigators said. Testing of the handgun matched the fired cartridge casings that were found at the gas station after the shooting, according to officials.

Washington is charged with aggravated assault, possession of firearms prohibited and other related offenses. He was arraigned on March 4, 2026, and his bail was set at $500,077.

Lee is charged with possession of firearms prohibited. He was also arraigned on March 4 and his bail was set at $100,077.

Both men are currently being held at the Montgomery County Correctional Facility and their preliminary hearing is scheduled for March 13, 2026.

Online court records don’t list legal representation who could speak on behalf of the suspects.

Besides the Norristown gas station shooting and the murder of Hamid Boyd, Washington was also previously charged as a juvenile in multiple robberies, according to the criminal complaint.

Gun trafficking bust

Investigators determined that both weapons that were found during the arrests of Washington and Lee were straw purchased at Treeline Sports – a gun shop in Norristown – by 27-year-old Derek Moore of Philadelphia.

Moore purchased the Springfield Armory XDM 10mm handgun on Nov. 28, 2025, and the Glock 23 .40 caliber handgun on Dec. 2, 2025, according to the criminal complaint.

Investigators said the limited number of days between the purchase of the guns and law enforcement’s recovery of the weapons was indicative of a straw purchased firearm.

Investigators also determined Moore purchased three other weapons.

On Dec. 10, 2019, Moore bought a Taurus .380 caliber handgun at Delaware Valley Sports in Philadelphia, officials said. That weapon was later recovered by Philadelphia Police on Oct. 8, 2020, during a narcotics arrest, according to investigators.

On July 23, 2025, Moore bought a Taurus G3C 9mm handgun once again at Delaware Valley Sports, officials said. The weapon was seized by law enforcement during their investigation into the Norristown gas station shooting, according to the criminal complaint.

On Nov. 30, 2025, Moore bought a Glock Model 17 9mm handgun at Sportsman’s Warehouse in Warminster, Pennsylvania, investigators said. That weapon has not yet been recovered, according to the criminal complaint.

After obtaining surveillance video from the gun stores, investigators determined Moore was involved in a gun trafficking ring with Dayvir Hardcastle, 24, of Norristown, and Ramel Dwayne Waddell Jr., 24, of Philadelphia.

Hardcastle and Waddell drove Moore to the gun shops where he purchased the weapons, according to the criminal complaint. Investigators also obtained photos from Hardcastle’s cellphone showing him brandishing and possessing illegal firearms, some of which weren’t purchased by Moore, officials said.

Hardcastle was arrested and charged with corrupt organization, conspiracy, dealing in the proceeds of unlawful activities, knowledge that proceeds is illegal act, illegal sales of firearms, possession of firearm prohibited and other related offenses.

He was arraigned on March 4 and his bail was set at $500,077. He remains in custody at the Montgomery County Correctional Facility and his preliminary hearing is schedule for March 16, 2026.

Online court records don’t list legal representation who could speak on Hardcastle’s behalf.

Moore and Waddell remain on the loose, officials said. Both men are charged with corrupt organization, conspiracy, dealing in the proceeds of unlawful activities, knowledge that proceeds is illegal act, illegal sales of firearms and other related offenses.