Brother, 13, charged in fatal shooting of sister

NORRISTOWN >> A 13-year-old boy was charged Friday with the shooting death of his 12-year-old sister in the family’s Upper Providence home.

The arrest of Jah’sir Vasquez for the third-degree murder of his sister, Jasiyah Vasquez, was announced late Friday night by Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin R. Steele and Upper Providence Township Police Chief Mark A. Toomey.

The family tragedy occurred Friday morning in the 100 block of Larchwood Court in the Collegeville section of Upper Providence.

Law enforcement officials typically do not release the names of juvenile suspects to the public, but Steele said the brother will be tried as an adult.

“We followed the evidence in this case, which clearly showed that the 13-year-old shot and killed his sister. Despite the child’s age, Pennsylvania law requires that we charge Jah’sir Vasquez in adult criminal court for the shooting death of his sister,” Steele said in a press release.

Jah’sir Vasquez was charged with third-degree murder and related charges, including involuntary manslaughter and possession of a firearm by a minor.

He was arraigned before Magisterial District Court Judge Cathleen Kelly Rebar, who denied bail and ordered that the teen be held at the Montgomery County Juvenile Detention Center.

A preliminary hearing for Jah’sir Vasquez is set for 9 a.m., March 26, before Magisterial District Judge Richard H. Welsh.

At approximately 7:51 a.m. on Friday, Upper Providence Police responded to a reported shooting inside a residence on Larch

“We followed the evidence in this case, which clearly showed that the 13-year-old shot and killed his sister. Despite the child’s age, Pennsylvania law requires that we charge Jah’sir Vasquez in adult criminal court for the shooting death of his sister.” — Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin R. Steele

wood Court, according to the D.A’s office.

Responding officers found Jasiyah Vasquez lying in the living room with a single gunshot wound to her chest. She was lifeless and not breathing and was pronounced dead, according to the press release issued by the D.A.

Dr. Ian Hood, the forensic pathologist with the Montgomery County Coroner’s Office, performed an autopsy on the body of Jasiyah Vasquez. Dr. Hood determined the cause of death was a single gunshot wound to the chest and the manner of death was a homicide.

The Montgomery County Detective Bureau and Upper Providence Police conducted a joint investigation into the homicide.

Authorities stated in court papers that the mother, Daisy Vasquez, initially told police that she accidentally shot her daughter, but after authorities viewed a home surveillance video, they determined that the 13-year-old son did the shooting.

The investigation determined that the mother asked her son Jah’sir to go outside to her car to get a 9mm handgun that was legally registered to her, according to the D.A.

The home surveillance video recovered by detectives showed the shooting, Steele said.

It depicts Jah’sir entering the house with the handgun in his right hand and then pointing it at his sister Jasiyah, according to Steele. Seconds later, while Jah’sir had the gun pointed in his sister’s direction, it discharged, and Jasiyah collapsed, Steele said.

The case remains under investigation.