Montgomery County man accused of fatally shooting his mother and brother

NORRISTOWN — A Perkiomen Township man who reportedly told authorities he had been “living on the edge” is accused of fatally shooting his mother and his brother inside his home during a domestic violence incident.

Aaron Eslie Deshong, 49, of the 700 block of Gravel Pike, was awaiting arraignment late Monday afternoon on charges of first- and third-degree murder and possessing an instrument of crime in connection with the alleged Sept. 24 fatal shootings of his mother, Wanda Deshong, 74, who lived in the home with him, and his brother, Adam Deshong, 53, of Devon, Chester County.

Autopsies determined Wanda Deshong died of a gunshot wound to the head and Adam Deshong died of multiple gunshot wounds. The manner of death for both victims was ruled to be homicide.

Authorities said a Smith & Wesson .38 caliber revolver, registered to the defendant, was found in the defendant’s basement bedroom closet.

Aaron Deshong will be held without bail on the homicide charges pending a preliminary hearing which will be set after his arraignment hearing.

The charges against Deshong were announced on Monday by Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin R. Steele and Pennsylvania State Police Captain Gerard B. McShea.

The investigation began about 5 p.m. Sunday after a male placed a call to an FBI National Threats Operation Center and indicated that he may have hurt his family members. Deshong reportedly told an FBI intake examiner that “he has been living on the edge since his father’s death, is not suicidal, and does not trust the local law enforcement officers,” according to the criminal complaint.

“Deshong related he has two shotguns, two rifles and a pistol. The pistol is on him, and the other guns are locked away. Deshong related his brother and mother are there and alluded to the fact that he hurt them. Deshong related that his family members are in the kitchen and cannot come to the phone,” Montgomery County Detective John Wittenberger and State Trooper Brad Furlong wrote in the criminal complaint.

When asked if his mother and brother were unharmed, Deshong allegedly kept answering, “that’s a good question.”

The FBI relayed the information to state police at Skippack, and troopers were dispatched to the home. The troopers were made aware that Deshong “was present at the address and may be armed with a pistol,” according to the criminal complaint.

“Additionally, troopers were advised that Deshong’s brother and mother were present and may be injured,” Wittenberger and Furlong wrote in the arrest affidavit.

Arriving troopers observed Deshong in the garage area of the residence and he was detained.

“Troopers conducted a safety sweep of the residence and located within the kitchen a deceased male and female lying on the floor. Both the male and female were laying in large pools of blood which were surrounding their heads. Troopers observed a fired projectile on the kitchen floor,” Wittenberger and Furlong alleged.

The investigation involved a records check that showed that Deshong purchased a Smith & Wesson .38-caliber firearm on July 13, 2004.

Armed with a warrant, detectives searched the home and located the .38-caliber firearm in a basement bedroom closet. Four spent casings and two live rounds were found in the cylinder, according to the criminal complaint.

Authorities have not revealed a motive for the alleged fatal shootings.

Deputy District Attorney Thomas W. McGoldrick, who is also chief of trials, and Assistant District Attorney Libby Hemler will prosecute the case.

Source: Berkshire mont