Coatesville man faces homicide charges

Stephen Derez Young, 36, arrested after standoff with police

COATESVILLE » A homicide suspect who pointed a handgun at a city police officer before barricading himself in a home for about an hour is being held in Chester County Prison on first-degree murder charges, according to the Chester County District Attorney’s Office.

Stephen Derez Young, 36, of

Parkesburg, is alleged to have shot and killed 40-year-old Warren Curtis after a chase in the early morning hours of Thursday. Curtis was shot multiple times in the torso, and was pronounced dead at Brandywine Hospital in Caln.

Curtis’ death is believed to be the first recorded homicide in the county in 2020.

In a statement issued late Thursday, District Attorney Deb Ryan called the shooting, “a senseless tragedy. We extend our deepest condolences to the victim’s family and friends. We will do everything we can to secure justice and we thank the dozens of police officers who helped safely and swiftly arrest the defendant in this case. They showed incredible professionalism in the face of danger.”

Also complimenting the actions of Coatesville police and officers from surrounding jurisdictions who responded to the barricade and subsequent arrest of the suspect was Coatesville Police Chief Jack Laufer.

“Thanks to the efforts of Coatesville City Police Officers, Chester County Detectives, and numerous other police officers, this very dangerous individual, Stephen D. Young, was apprehended quickly without further loss of life,” he was quoted as saying in the D.A.’s press release. “The safety of our community is of utmost importance, and removing criminals with no regard for life is our top priority.”

The motive behind the shooting was not immediately known. Young has a criminal record in the county dating back to 2002. He had served 11 ½ to 23 months in Chester County Prison in 2014 on aggravated assault charges.

The description of events surrounding Curtis’s death given by the D.A.’s Office is as follows:

At approximately 12:33 a.m. on Thursday city police were dispatched to an address in the 700 block of East Lincoln Highway for a reported shooting. Upon arrival, police officers found Curtis lying on the sidewalk with gunshot wounds to his upper torso. He was transported to Brandywine Hospital and pronounced dead there at 1:34 a.m.

Officers located a trail of blood leading from the victim to North 7th Avenue, about a block away. While searching the area they found several 9 mm shell

casings on the front porch of a house in the 50 block of North 7th Avenue, where it was later learned Curtis and his girlfriend lived.

While reviewing video surveillance cameras located in the area, police observed a man in a white t-shirt run off the porch the home at 12:29 a.m. being chased by another man in dark clothing. The man in the white tshirt matched the description of the clothing Curtis was wearing when he was found on the sidewalk.

Detectives spoke to a witness who lives in close proximity to Curtis’ home. The person, who was not identified by name in the complaint filed by Detective Kirt Guyer, told investigators they were watching television when they heard a gunshot, followed by three more gunshots when they went outside. The person said they saw a man running east on Diamond Street who was being chased by another male.

The witness stated the man who was chasing the first subject immediately returned to Diamond Street

and North 7thAvenue and put something into a gold Honda parked on the southwest corner. The person observed the subject, later identified as Young, playing with an object in his hands that appeared to be a 9 mm handgun. The subject opened the driver’s door of the gold Honda and changed clothing.

At 11:47 a.m. on Thursday, city police were dispatched to the house on North 7th Avenue because two witnesses reported seeing Stephen Young return to the residence with a gun.

Veteran Officer Jared Davis was the first to arrive at the location, and observed a male on the front porch matching the description provided. As Davis got out of his patrol car, he gave the subject verbal commands to come off the porch so they could talk. The subject refused and started to back into the residence.

As Davis stepped onto the porch, continuing with his verbal commands, the subject stated “no” and pointed a black semi-automatic handgun at the officer’s

chest. Davis took cover to avoid being shot, and the subject backed into the residence and shut the door.

Approximately 30 law enforcement units established a perimeter around the house, and at 12:51 p.m., Young surrendered to law enforcement by walking out the front door of the residence. After Young was taken into custody, law enforcement recovered a black semi-automatic 9 mm handgun from the residence.

Young was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Hines of Coatesville and remanded to Chester County Prison in lieu of bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Sept. 14 at 9 a.m. before Magisterial District Judge Koon of Valley.

Anyone with further information concerning this homicide is asked to call the Coatesville City Police Department at 610-384-2300 or the Chester County Detectives at 610-344-6866.

Stephen Derez Young