Norristown man accused of killing father gets a new lawyer
A Norristown man accused of fatally shooting his father during an altercation at his borough residence and then shooting and wounding a child outside the home has a new lawyer and a new trial date.
Steven Mark Quadrel, 25, of the 600 block of East Airy Street, showed no emotion in a Montgomery County courtroom as his new lawyer, Coley Reynolds, of Collegeville, entered his appearance and explained to a judge he is currently reviewing the case.
Quadrel’s trial originally was scheduled to begin May 4. But given the fact a new defense lawyer has entered the case Judge Thomas C. Branca agreed to reschedule the trial to begin on Sept. 14. The judge set June 2 as the day to hold a hearing on any pretrial matters that may develop.
Quadrel previously was represented by defense lawyer Carrie Allman, the chief homicide lawyer in the public defender’s office who was appointed by the judge. However, Quadrel recently hired Reynolds.
Assistant District Attorney Kelly Lloyd is prosecuting the case.
Quadrel faces charges of first- and third-degree murder, aggravated assault, possessing an instrument of crime and recklessly endangering another person in connection with the Oct. 24, 2018, shooting incidents in the borough.
If he’s convicted of firstdegree murder, which is an intentional killing, Quadrel faces life imprisonment. A conviction of third-degree murder, a killing with malice, carries a possible maximum sentence of 20-to-40years in prison.
The investigation began about 3:59 p.m. Oct. 24 when Norristown police were dispatched to the 600 block of Sandy Street for a report of a man shooting a gun in the vicinity. Arriving officers found Quadrel there and he was taken into custody after a struggle with police, according to the criminal complaint filed by county Detective James
Reape and Norristown Detective William Klinger.
Police recovered a Beretta 9mm semiautomatic pistol with a laser sight hidden behind a parked truck, according to authorities.
A 12-year-old boy told police that he was riding his scooter on Sandy Street with two friends when he saw a man, allegedly Quadrel, run past him and then moments later run back toward him.
“(The child) said the male pointed a gun with a red beam at his face, lowered the gun and shot at him. (The child) said he ran and later discovered he was struck across the top of his left hand,” Reape and Klinger alleged in court papers.
Authorities said the child was treated at a local hospital for a non-lifethreatening graze wound to his hand and arm and released.
A Sandy Street resident told police he was inside his home when he heard gunshots and went outside and observed a man with a handgun. The resident told Quadrel to put the gun down and Quadrel allegedly dropped the gun behind a parked truck, according to the criminal complaint.
At the scene, Quadrel asked police about his father and repeatedly stated he killed his father, court papers indicate.
“Quadrel also kept asking officers to check on his father and said, ‘I think I shot him,’” Reape and Klinger alleged.
In an attempt to locate Quadrel’s father authorities went to Quadrel’s East Airy Street apartment at 10:30 p.m. and discovered a deceased Mark Quadrel, lying face-down on the floor of the apartment, according to court documents.
“The male sustained multiple gunshot wounds. Also inside the apartment was an empty pistol magazine, multiple fired shell casings and black plastic gun box,” Reape and Klinger alleged.
Detectives allegedly recovered 23 fired cartridge casings and eight projectiles inside the apartment.
An autopsy determined Mark Quadrel, who lived in New Jersey and reportedly was visiting the Norristown residence, died as a result of gunshot wounds to the head and torso. The manner of death was ruled homicide.