Media, PA – Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer announced the arrest today of Nicholas A. Hoyle, 27, of Sharon Hill, in connection with the October 4, 2021, murder of Dwayne Williams, 54, at the SEPTA trolley stop located in the area of Woodlawn Avenue and McDade Boulevard.
“I want to commend the Collingdale and Sharon Hill Police Departments for their great work in collaboration with my Office’s Criminal Investigation Division for solving this homicide and bringing the killer to justice in less than 48 hours,” said District Attorney Stollsteimer.
“The murder of Mr. Williams was a real shock to our community,” said Collingdale Police Chief Ken Felker. “Bringing the killer to justice so quickly will ease our residents concerns, and for that we are thankful to our law enforcement partners in Sharon Hill and the DA’s Office,” Felker continued.
On the morning of Monday, October 4, 2021, Investigator James MacIntosh from the Collingdale Police Department was on patrol in the area of Woodlawn Avenue and McDade Boulevard when he observed a male lying inside the SEPTA trolley stop. The victim was unresponsive, and emergency personnel were summoned. Mercy Fitzgerald emergency responders arrived at the scene at the victim was pronounced deceased. The medical examiner subsequently determined the cause of death was a gunshot wound to the chest.
Collingdale Police Corporal Patrick Crozier began the investigation by reviewing camera footage from two of the surrounding businesses. The footage depicted the victim sitting on a bench at the trolley stop when a second individual appeared, wearing tan Timberland-style boots, dark pants, and a black and blue jacket. The second subject stood and paced outside the shelter and was then seen raising his arm while pointing at the victim, with the result that the victim slumped over, clutching his chest. Additional footage was obtained from local businesses which depicted an individual matching the description of the suspect making a purchase at a nearby convenience store. A search warrant was obtained to track the transaction, which was completed using an Electronic Benefit Transfer card issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Welfare. By tracing the transaction, the suspect was identified as Nicholas Hoyle, an individual with a prior conviction for robbery and, as such, ineligible to possess a firearm. A search of PennDOT records provided investigators with the suspect’s address, and a search of criminal records confirmed the identity of the suspect depicted in the video footage as that of defendant Hoyle.
On October 6, 2021, Detective Sean Johnson from the Sharon Hill Police Department and Officer MacIntosh from the Collingdale Police Department were on patrol in Sharon Hill . The officers stopped Hoyle, and a firearm was recovered from his waistband. In addition, the EBT card used by the suspect was found in the defendant’s wallet. The defendant was then taken into custody.
The defendant was denied bail and was transported to George W. Hill Correctional Facility. A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for October 22, 2021 before District Justice Lee Grimes.
“In addition to commending the work of Collingdale Investigator MacIntosh and Corporal Crozier and Detective Johnson of the Sharon Hill Police Department, I want to express my appreciation to Sharon Hill Detective Vincent Port and Detective David Tyler of the Criminal Investigation Division, both of whom played a critical role in the identification and arrest of the suspect,” said Stollsteimer.
CRIMINAL CHARGES, AND ANY DISCUSSION THEREOF, ARE ALLEGATIONS AND ALL DEFENDANTS ARE PRESUMED INNOCENT UNLESS AND UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY.
The District Attorney and the Criminal Investigations Division remind anyone in Delaware County who observes suspicious activity to call 911 immediately and provide the most specific and accurate details possible to assist law enforcement agencies investigating the call for service.
For more information contact Margie McAboy, Public Information Officer, Delaware County District Attorney’s Office, 610-579-0429.