03/05/2026
ZIYKER WASHINGTON AND BENJAMIN LEE ARRESTED FOR NORRISTOWN SHOOTING THAT PARALYZED VICTIM; Three others charged with gun trafficking, including the firearm used in the shooting
Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin R. Steele and Norristown Police Chief Michael Trail announce the arrests of Ziyker Washington, 20, and Benjamin Lee, 18, both of Norristown, for the Jan. 4, 2026, shooting that left a young woman paralyzed. Also charged are Dayvir Hardcastle, 24, of Norristown; Derek Moore, 27, and Ramel Dwayne Waddell Jr., 24, both of Philadelphia, on gun trafficking charges related to the firearm used in the shooting and other illegally transferred fi****ms.
On Jan. 4, 2026, at 6:41 p.m., Norristown Police responded to the 1600 block of Powell Street for a report of a female shot in the back. Police arrived to find 21-year-old Jayla Dinolfi lying on the lawn, shot in the back, as well as 22-year-old Milan Dean-Brewer, who was shot in the thigh; and a 16-year-old with an injury to his finger. Both shooting victims were transported via ambulance to the hospital.
The investigation by the Montgomery County Detective Bureau and Norristown Police found that the shooting actually occurred at the Shell Gas Station at 1703 Markley Street. At the gas station, eight 10mm shell casings were recovered from the parking lot in front of the fuel pumps. Gas station surveillance video showed that at 6:30 p.m., a silver Honda Accord turned into the parking lot. Ziyker Washington and Benjamin Lee exit the vehicle and walk into the convenience store, where Washington makes a purchase. They return to the vehicle at the gas pumps. The video showed Lee taking photographs of Washington, when Washington spots a black Cadillac SUV being driven by Dean-Brewer. Washington raised his firearm and began shooting at the Cadillac. The Cadillac fled the scene, and both Washington and Lee fled the gas station in the Honda. Through a search warrant, detectives located the photo of Washington taken by Lee at the gas station in Washington’s iCloud storage.
On Jan. 12, 2026, Washington and Lee were both arrested at a residence in Philadelphia on outstanding warrants. A search of the residence yielded a G***k 23 .40 caliber firearm and a Springfield XDM 10mm handgun. Testing of the recovered Springfield XD10 firearm in Washington’s possession matched the FCCs found at the Shell Gas Station following the Jan. 4, 2026, shooting.
Law enforcement launched an investigation into these fi****ms, as both Washington and Lee were not legally able to possess a firearm. The investigation found that both fi****ms were straw purchased at Treeline Sports in Norristown by defendant Derek Moore, between 41 and 45 days earlier. The limited number of days between the purchase of the firearm and law enforcement’s recovery of it is an indicator of a straw purchased firearm. The investigation into Moore’s firearm purchasing found that he purchased five fi****ms:
•Dec. 10, 2019, Moore purchased a Ta**us .380 caliber handgun; recovered by the Philadelphia Police on Oct. 8, 2020, during a narcotics arrest; purchased at Delaware Valley Sports in Philadelphia.
•July 23, 2025, Moore purchased a Ta**us G3C 9mm handgun; seized by law enforcement during this investigation; purchased at Delaware Valley Sports in Philadelphia.
•Nov. 28, 2025, Moore purchased a Springfield Armory XDM 10mm handgun; recovered during Washington and Lee’s arrests; purchased at Treeline Sports in Norristown.
•Nov. 30, 2025, Moore purchased a G***k Model 17 9mm handgun; this handgun has not been recovered by law enforcement; purchased at Sportsman’s Warehouse in Warminster.
•Dec. 2, 2025, Moore purchased a G***k Model 23 .40 caliber handgun; recovered during Washington and Lee’s arrests; purchased at Treeline Sports in Norristown.
Through video surveillance at the gun stores, the investigation found that Moore was involved in the illegal transfer of fi****ms conspiracy with Hardcastle, who was a Person Not to Possess a Firearm, and Waddell. The two defendants drove Moore to gun stores. Surrounding the time of the fi****ms purchases, Hardcastle communicated numerous times with Moore’s phone surrounding the timeframe of the gun purchases, placing 29 calls. Multiple photos on Hardcastle’s cellphone showed him brandishing and possessing illegal fi****ms, beyond those purchased by Moore.
Multiple law enforcement agencies participated in this shooting investigation and the subsequent investigation into the illegal gun trafficking, including the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office Detective Bureau Violent Crime Unit (VCU), the Office of Attorney General Gun Violence Task Force (GVTF), the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Gun Violence Reduction Task Force, Norristown Borough Police Department, Pennsylvania State Police and the Philadelphia Police Department.
Washington is charged with six counts of Aggravated Assault, Possession of Fi****ms Prohibited and other fi****ms charges. Washington was arraigned March 4, 2026, by Magisterial District Judge Patrick O. Krouse, who set bail at $500,077 and remains in the Montgomery County Correctional Facility.
Lee is charged with two counts of Possession of Fi****ms Prohibited. Lee was arraigned March 4, 2026, by Magisterial District Judge Krouse, who set bail at $100,077 and remains in the Montgomery County Correctional Facility.
Hardcastle is charged with Corrupt Organization, Conspiracy, Dealing in the Proceeds of Unlawful Activities, Knowledge that Proceeds is Illegal Act, multiple counts of Illegal Sales of Fi****ms, Possession of Firearm Prohibited and other fi****ms charges. Hardcastle was arraigned March 4, 2026, by Magisterial District Judge Krouse, who set bail at $500,077 and remains in the Montgomery County Correctional Facility. Hardcastle’s preliminary hearing is scheduled for March 16, 2026.
Arrest warrants have been issued for Moore and Waddell, who are charged with Corrupt Organization, Conspiracy, Dealing in the Proceeds of Unlawful Activities, Knowledge that Proceeds is Illegal Act, multiple counts of Illegal Sales of Fi****ms and other fi****ms charges.
A preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge Todd N. Barnes is scheduled for March 13, 2026, for all three defendants. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Courtney McMonagle.
CRIMINAL CHARGES, AND ANY DISCUSSION THEREOF, ARE MERELY ALLEGATIONS AND ALL DEFENDANTS ARE PRESUMED INNOCENT UNTIL AND UNLESS PROVEN GUILTY.
