Montgomery County, PA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 4, 2009

 

 

   

  

           Joseph Brian Jimenez

 

   

 

Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman and Bridgeport Borough Police Chief Zenny E. Martyniuk annouce the arrest of 24 year old Joseph Brian Jimenez for the murder of Scott Riley, who was 25 years old at the time of his death. On May 1, 2009 the defendant and the victim were at a house in Bridgeport. During a game of “Beer Pong” an argument ensued between the defendant and Scott Riley, after which the defendant shot Riley in the neck, killing him. The defendant is charged with First Degree Murder, Third Degree Murder and related charges.
 
On Friday, May 1, 2009 at approximately 11:40 PM Bridgeport Borough and Upper Merion Police Officers responded to a report of a shooting in a pedestrian alley, which is located between 109 and 111 West Second Street, Bridgeport Borough, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. Upon their arrival, officers found victim Scott Riley on the ground in the alley. The victim was bleeding profusely from his neck.  Officers observed a single .40 caliber shell casing on the ground near the victim. The victim was transported from the scene to Montgomery Hospital. Shortly after the victim’s arrival at the hospital he was pronounced dead.

 

Police apprehended Joseph Brian Jimenez near the scene. They found a silver Taurus .40 caliber gun in a trash can behind a nearby home. A preliminary examination of the Taurus handgun revealed that  the firearm had one live round in the chamber and six live rounds in the magazine. The .40 caliber ammunition found in the Taurus was identical in caliber and make to a spent casing found at the shooting scene. An inquiry made with the Pennsylvania State Police confirmed this Taurus was owned by the defendant.

 

Police interviewed Jimenez who admitted he was at a friend’s home on 111 West Second Street in Bridgeport with the victim and others. Just before the shooting, the defendant said he exited the front door of 111 West Second Street while another individual and the victim exited the rear. The defendant entered the alley and encountered the victim. The defendant said the victim told him, “shoot me, shoot me, you guys ain’t got the …”.  The defendant then took his Taurus .40 caliber handgun from where he had it concealed in his waistband and shot the victim one time. He then fled the scene before the police arrived and went home. On the way to his home, he abandoned the Taurus handgun in a trash can. 
 
Police also interviewed the mother of the defendant, who told investigators she was asleep at 25 West Second Street when her son woke her up. It was just after midnight on May 2, 2009. The defendant admitted he shot the victim and told his mother a story about what happened. Jimenez told his mother he had been playing beer pong with the victim and his gun fell and went off.

 

Prior to the shooting, a witness inside of 111 West Second Street said she observed the victim and the defendant arguing. They were arguing over a game they were playing.  

 

On Saturday, May 2, 2009, Dr. Erica Williams, a Forensic Pathologist, performed an autopsy on the body of the victim. Dr. Williams determined the cause of death to be a gun shot wound to the neck. The manner of death was ruled a homicide.

 

The defendant was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge James P. Gallagher and remanded to the Montgomery County Correctional Facility without bail. The defendant is scheduled for a preliminary hearing Monday May 11, 2009 at 12:30 PM. Judge Gallagher’s Court is located at 128 W. Fourth Street, Bridgeport.

 

The case will be prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Jesse King and Assistant District Attorney John Aitchison.
 
Approved for release:

 

Risa Vetri Ferman