A 15-year-old Pennsylvania boy has been charged as an adult with first-degree murder in the fatal shooting of a homeless man in the face, prosecutors announced. The incident occurred on Wednesday, the day before Thanksgiving, at Security Plaza on South Hanover Street in Pottstown. The victim, 39-year-old Jeremiah Waylon Hawkins, was shot by the suspect, Thomas James Niarhos, after an argument escalated.

According to multiple witness interviews and surveillance video, Niarhos "sought out" Hawkins, who was experiencing homelessness, leading to a confrontation between the two. During the argument, Niarhos allegedly extended his arm towards Hawkins, who tried to defend himself by swinging a tire at Niarhos to knock the gun out of his hand. In response, Niarhos fired a single shot at Hawkins' face. Hawkins fell to the ground, and Niarhos fired a second shot before dropping the gun and walking away. Bystanders at the scene detained Niarhos until the arrival of the Pottstown Police.

Upon their arrival, police found Hawkins lying on the street with a gunshot wound to the head. Despite being rushed to Pottstown Hospital, he was pronounced dead. The Montgomery County District Attorney's Office stated that an autopsy revealed Hawkins had been shot once in the side of his face at close range. The cause of death was determined to be a gunshot wound to the head, and the manner of death was ruled as a homicide.

The investigation led to the recovery of a .40 caliber Smith & Wesson semi-automatic firearm at the scene, which was determined to belong to Niarhos' father. As a result, Niarhos was charged with first-degree murder, third-degree murder, possessing a firearm by a minor, possessing an instrument of crime, and carrying a firearm without a license. He was arraigned on November 22 and was remanded to the Montgomery County Youth Center, as no bail is available for the top charge.

It remains unclear whether Niarhos has retained an attorney, as online court records show that he declined to request a public defender. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for November 30. CNN has reached out to authorities for further details regarding the criminal complaint and a copy of the police incident report but has not received a response. The tragic incident has left the community shocked, and the loss of Jeremiah Hawkins serves as a reminder of the ongoing challenges faced by those experiencing homelessness.