Pa. man accused of breaking into ex-girlfriend’s home and killing her new boyfriend

LANSDALE, Pa. (TCD) -- The Montgomery County District Attorney has announced charges against a 21-year-old man accused of breaking into his ex-girlfriend’s home and fatally shooting her new boyfriend.

According to the District Attorney’s Office, on Monday, April 17, at approximately 11:09 p.m., Lansdale Police responded to a report of a shooting at Walnut Arms Apartments and found the victim, Wesley Smith, 21, dead on the master bedroom floor.

Officers also found Christopher Moore Jr. suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was airlifted to Jefferson Hospital in Philadelphia and will likely survive, the District Attorney’s Office said.

Upon further investigation, Montgomery County detectives and Lansdale Police learned Smith and his girlfriend, Hailee Duerson Skeleton, were together in her apartment when Moore, the father of Duerson Skeleton’s children, allegedly "broke into her apartment through the bathroom window, went into the bedroom, and began shooting."

Smith was shot in the face and armpit, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports. He reportedly fired back multiple times with a legally owned gun.

At the scene, officials recovered two firearms and numerous cartridge casings.

According to the District Attorney’s Office, on April 18, Dr. Lindsay Simon, a forensic pathologist, performed an autopsy and determined Smith died of multiple gunshot wounds. His death was ruled a homicide.

The District Attorney’s Office charged Moore, who remains hospitalized, with first-degree murder, second-degree murder, third-degree murder, burglary, criminal trespass, and possessing an instrument of crime. He is awaiting arraignment.

Prior to the shooting, a criminal complaint obtained by the Philadelphia Inquirer alleged Moore broke into Duerson Skeleton’s home the previous night and allegedly punched and strangled her. He reportedly showed a gun and threatened to "pop" her and her new boyfriend before smashing her phone. Duerson Skeleton did not report the incident to authorities because she was reportedly afraid Moore would abuse her.

MORE:

• District Attorney Announces Investigation into Homicide in Lansdale — Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office
• Christopher Moore Jr. Charged with First-Degree Murder in Lansdale Killing — Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office
• Lansdale man charged with killing ex-girlfriend’s new partner — the Philadelphia Inquirer