2 Charged After Innocent Bystander Killed In Norristown Shootout

Norristown PA

30 September, 2021

12:56 PM

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NORRISTOWN, PA — Two men have been charged in what investigators termed a "Wild West shootout" which left an innocent bystander dead in front of his home in Montgomery County this month, officials announced Thursday. A third man is wanted and a fourth shooter is under investigation. Brandon Darden, 25, and Joshua Agudio Jr., 20, both of Norristown, face first degree murder charges in the shooting. Edwin Islas-Cruz, 23, of Norristown, is also wanted for murder. The incident occurred on Saturday, Sept. 18 on the 600 block of Astor Street at 5:21 p.m. Norristown's Barry Fields, 51, was sitting on his front porch when a Toyota Camry pulled up to a nearby home where a group of men were standing outside, according to the District Attorney's Office. Islas-Cruz and an unidentified man got out of the vehicle and started shooting at the group of men, police said. Darden and Aguido, who were in that group, returned fire, according to authorities. At least 20 shots rang out, 911 callers told police. The nature of the disagreement between the two groups remains unclear. Officials said that at least two individuals had an "ongoing dispute." Fields was hit in the head in the crossfire and died at the scene. "Mr. Fields was murdered while sitting on the steps of his residence on a sunny Saturday afternoon," District Attorney Kevin Steele said in part of a statement released Thursday. "There is no place for this kind of dangerous Wild West shootout in Norristown or anywhere in Montgomery County." Authorities are asking for the public's help in tips on tracking down Islas-Cruz, pictured below, who is considered armed and dangerous. He is 5 feet, 7 inches tall, and 210 pounds. If you have any information, contact the Norristown Police Department at 610-270-0977, or call the Montgomery County Detectives' Tip Line at 610-278-DOIT (3638). Preliminary hearings will be held for Agudio on Oct. 5 and Darden on Oct. 7. No bail is available for first degree murder charges, and both were booked at Montgomery County Correctional Facility.