Man arraigned in homicide case
An Allegheny County man, charged with homicide in the shooting death of a Philadelphia man in Butler in March, was formally arraigned in Butler County Court on Tuesday.
David J. Franklin, 19, of Brackenridge, was arraigned on charges of homicide and felony discharge of a firearm into an occupied structure before Judge William Shaffer.
He will now be scheduled for further court proceedings.
Butler police charged Franklin after an incident at the Wick Street Apartments, 123 Wick St., on March 16.
Police said Franklin shot Rashaan K. Adams, 20, of Philadelphia, twice in the head and once in the chest, killing him, after an argument over money.
Adams’ body was found on the kitchen floor of the apartment by police after they were called to a shots fired report at the complex owned by The Butler Housing and Redevelopment Authority, according to the affidavit of probable cause.
Police said Franklin had been staying at the apartment the night before with several people — including Adams and Kimberly Schnur, the apartment’s tenant at the time.
Court documents state Schnur told police that Franklin woke her up around 8 a.m. to ask “where his money is” after he claimed $900 had been stolen from his pocket. Another person at the apartment at the time also claimed to be missing money.
Franklin then confronted Adams. Schnur reported hearing two gunshots, and when she ran into the room she saw Franklin shoot Adams, according to court documents.
After the incident Franklin fled the area and was later arrested by the U.S. Marshals Service at a friend’s home in Henrico County, Virginia. He was extradited back to Butler County in June.
An autopsy was performed on Adams and determined that he was shot three times — once in the chest and twice in the head.
Franklin continues to be held in Butler County Prison without bail.
