Montco man will stand trial on 1st-degree murder, claims self-defense in death of friend who 'went to the dark side' on PCP

NORRISTOWN, Pa. (KYW Newsradio) — A 41-year-old Norristown man who told police he and his friend were smoking PCP when his friend “went to the dark side,” and he was defending himself when he shot the man dead earlier this month, is ordered to stand trial on charges including first- and third-degree murder.

Saleem Smith is accused of fatally shooting Jeremy Johnson, 32, around 4 a.m. on Oct. 9 in Johnson’s apartment on East Marshall Street in Norristown.

Smith called 911 afterward, asking for police, saying he and Johnson had been smoking PCP that night, and Johnson “went to the dark side … so I defended myself.”

Smith’s lawyer, Matt Quigg, says they will look into a self-defense claim down the road, but at the preliminary hearing, he argued, unsuccessfully, that first-degree murder should be thrown out.

“At the time that this happened, Saleem was under the influence of drugs, unfortunately, and … because of being under the influence of those drugs, he wasn't able to form any specific intent to kill,” Quigg said.

The first police officer on the scene says, when he found Smith standing outside the apartment building, he was swaying, unsteady on his feet, and was mumbling incoherently. The officer said he wasn’t sure if Smith spoke English.

When Smith led him into the apartment, the officer says, he saw a gun lying on the floor and a machete near Johnson’s body.

Prosecutors say Johnson died from two gunshots to his chest. One bullet was embedded in the floor under Johnson’s body, which they say shows Smith was standing over him when he shot the second time.

Quigg said in court that Smith “is not somebody that has a hard heart in any stretch of the imagination,” and he has been involved in his community.

“Trying to talk to kids, trying to teach kids to make good decisions. You know, his nickname among some people is ‘Kool Aid Man,’ because he's always smiling.”

Magisterial District Judge Hakim Jones ordered that Smith be held all charges, including first-degree murder, agreeing with prosecutors that a jury should be tasked with deciding if the killing was premeditated first-degree, or the lesser charge of third-degree murder.