MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Pa. (KYW Newsradio) — A Montgomery County man accused of shooting and killing his mother and brother in the Perkiomen Township home he shared with his mom is on trial for first-degree murder.
In opening statements Monday, Prosecutor Libby Hemler said it was 13 years of pent-up anger and resentment that led 50-year-old Aaron DeShong to shoot his mother, 74-year-old Wanda DeShong, and brother, 53-year-old Adam DeShong, in September 2023.
She says the gun used in the shooting was found in a locked closet in Aaron’s bedroom with four spent shell casings. The key to that closet was on Aaron’s key ring, and he had gunshot residue on his hands. But Aaron’s lawyer says his client did not commit these crimes.
Hemler says Aaron called the FBI, saying he didn’t trust local law enforcement and alluded to hurting his mother and brother. He said he had a revolver and several rifles and was “living on the edge” since his father died.
When asked if his mother and brother were okay and if he used the revolver that day, Aaron repeatedly answered, “That’s a good question.”
State police arrived at the home while Aaron was on the phone with the FBI and took him into custody. The bodies of his mother and brother were found in the kitchen.
His lawyer says prosecutors can’t prove it was Aaron because there’s no confession, no eyewitnesses, he was the one who called, and was cooperative with police.