Third person arrested in Uniontown robbery death
The man accused of fatally shooting another man who allegedly tried to rob him with three others at a vacant Uniontown apartment was arrested Thursday afternoon.
Derek Lee Royster, 29, allegedly shot Marquell L. Bailey, 25, at a vacant Pershing Court apartment at about 6:30 p.m. Monday.
Uniontown police allege that Bailey, Megan Marie Bowlen, 24, Joel Michael Grooms, 30, and Miranda Jean Engle, 30, all of Uniontown conspired to rob Royster of cocaine. Bowlen and Engle were arraigned on homicide charges the following morning. Police were still searching for Grooms Friday.
Engle called Royster to set up a drug deal about an hour before the shooting, police said. The four people waited for Royster to arrive with cocaine at the 61 Pershing Court apartment. The women waited in the living room and the men waited in the dining room, according to court paperwork.
When Royster arrived and showed the woman the cocaine, Bailey walked into the living room and tried to punch Royster, prompting him to pull out a gun and shoot Bailey in the chest, according to court paperwork.
Royster allegedly fired two rounds at Bowlen, who hid behind the couch, and the two others as they ran out the back door. Two bullets were lodged in the couch, court documents indicate.
Royster fled in a pick-up truck. Bowlen saw Bailey on the floor bleeding and gasping for air, ran out the back door and called 911. She returned to perform CPR on Bailey, police said.
Bailey was taken to Uniontown Hospital by ambulance, where he died later that night.
Bowlen and Engle went to her Pershing Court apartment where Bowlen washed blood from her hands, and the two fled the area, police said.
Grooms, Engle and Bowlen are charged with criminal homicide, robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery.
Royster is charged with criminal homicide, attempted homicide, possession with intent to deliver drugs, four counts of aggravated assault and three counts of recklessly endangering another person.
He was arraigned at 4:40 p.m. Thursday before Magisterial District Judge Daniel C. Shimshock, who denied bail. Bowlen and Engle were also denied bail.