NORRISTOWN, P.A. (KYW Newsradio) — A Norristown man arrested in Philadelphia in January, who was wanted on first-degree murder charges, is now also being charged with a shooting that paralyzed a woman just over a week before being caught.
Ziyker Washington, 20, of Norristown, was wanted for a Nov. 30 shooting that killed a 19-year-old, but the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office said he’s also a suspect in a Jan. 4 shooting that paralyzed a 21-year-old woman.
The shooting on Jan. 4 happened at a Shell gas station on Markley Street in Norristown near the DMV.
In addition to the 21-year-old woman, a 16-year-old and another driver at the gas station were wounded by gunfire.
Norristown Police Chief Michael Trail tied the shooting to gang violence operating under the mantra of ‘shoot-on-sight.’
“It's not just bad people shooting bad people, it's bad people shooting guns, and those bullets don't have a name on them,” he said. “Sometimes they may hit their intended target, but most of the time, they don't.”
Investigators say surveillance video from the gas station the night of the shooting shows Washington having pictures taken of him by 18-year-old Benjamin Lee by the gas pumps when a black SUV pulls up, and Washington immediately opens fire in its direction.
The photos were later found by investigators in Washington’s iCloud account.
Washington and Lee were arrested by authorities in Philadelphia on Jan. 12 and they also recovered two firearms. Prosecutors say the one in Washington’s possession matched the spent shell casings found on the scene at the gas station.
In addition to murder, and six counts of aggravated assault, Washington is also charged alongside four others, including Lee, with gun trafficking and straw purchasing firearms.