Log In


Reset Password

3 teens charged in Polk deadly shooting

Three teens have been charged in the fatal shooting of a 15-year-old Sunday night during a drug sale in Polk Township.

Charged were: Justin G. Lemont, 18 of Kunkletown, who police said was the getaway driver.

Police identified Anthony P. Mitchell, 18, of Kunkletown, as the passenger side shooter.

Michael Demuro-Correll, 15, of Kunkletown, was named by police as the driver side shooter. He was charged as an adult.

According to court papers filed by Trooper Jonathan Bailey of the Pennsylvania State police, Troop N Stroudsburg:

At 7:19 p.m. Sunday, a 14-year-old boy called to report that two males were shot inside a black Volvo near the intersection of Squirrelwood Court and Sunset Lane in Polk Township.

Patrol units from PSP Troop N Lehighton responded.

Aiden Paiz, 15, a Pleasant Valley High School student, was dead in the front passenger seat with an gunshot wound to his chest.

The boy said he and his two friends were hanging out at the cul-de-sac on Squirrelwood Court inside the 17-year-old’s car when a car pulled up next to them and two teens got out of the car.

One was wearing a blue bandana. Both were wearing hoodies.

The boy said the two hit the vehicle with a blunt object and then began shooting at the three juveniles as they sat inside their vehicle.

The shooters fled the scene.

The 17-year-old drove the vehicle down the road and stopped on the roadway in front of a home in the 200 block of Squirrelwood Court. Realizing that his two friends were shot, the 14-year-old called 911 for help.

The 17-year-old was taken to Lehigh Valley-Pocono for treatment.

The PSP Forensic Services Unit found multiple bullet casings at the scene, including 9 mm and .223 calibers. The Volvo S60 sedan had broken glass. No guns were recovered at the scene.

The 14-year-old was interviewed and said that at around 6 p.m. Sunday he was contacted by the 15-year-old through text message to hang out.

He said that Michael Demuro-Correll, 15, of Albrightsville, added his account on Snapchat and began messaging him, asking if he had any marijuana to sell.

A drug transaction was coordinated though Snapchat, and Demuro-Correll requested that they meet at a cul-de-sac at Squirrelwood Court.

The 14-year-old said he had about half an ounce to sell for $120, and Demuro-Correll sent him the address to meet for the drug transaction in the 700 block of Rainbow Terrace.

He described Demuro-Correll’s Snapchat account icon as a white male wearing a blue bandana, and the account had images associated with the Crips street gang.

He said there were videos on Demuro-Correll’s account of a white man holding a firearm. The firearm he described matched the description of the weapon used during the incident.

The 14-year-old said the 17-year-old drove him to the area of the 700 block of Rainbow Terrace, and after about 20 minutes had passed, he observed a gray/silver sedan waiting in the cul-de-sac. Demuro-Correll, wearing a blue bandana got out and approached the driver side and asked to see the marijuana.

The 14-year-old then handed the marijuana to the 17-year-old, but Demuro-Correll said he was going to rob them and took the marijuana.

Demuro-Correll then pulled out a black semi-automatic pistol and shot the 17-year-old.

The 14-year-old said that another suspect, identified as Mitchell, was standing at the passenger side of their vehicle and fired multiple shots.

Additional interviews pointed to screenshots of the conversation from the early morning hours Sunday in which Demuro-Correll said that he had been traveling with Anthony Mitchell and two other individuals in the area of this incident.

Demuro-Correll was transported to PSP-Fern Ridge station for an interview Monday morning in the presence of his father.

Demuro-Correll said that he communicated with Mitchell through his Snapchat account, and that they coordinated a drug transaction through their Snapchat accounts.

He said Mitchell arrived at Demuro-Correll’s residence and that Emma Mitchell was in the front driver seat, Demuro-Correll was in the rear driver seat, and a white man was in the rear passenger seat. Mitchell had a black semi-automatic pistol, and Demuro-Correll said he handled Mitchell’s pistol and took a picture with his iPhone XR cellphone.

Demuro-Correll said that they traveled to the Exxon Gas station at the intersection of Routes 903 and 534. Mitchell entered the gas station to make a purchase and drove the vehicle back to Demuro-Correll’s development. Both got out of the car. Demuro-Correll said Mitchell pointed the gun at him and robbed him of $120.

Demuro-Correll said the white man pointed an AR-15 rifle at him, and after taking his money, Mitchell threatened him if he did not set up the 14-year-old for a robbery.

Mitchell sent the victim’s Snapchat information and instructed Demuro-Correll to set up the transaction and provided the address for the victim to meet up with Mitchell.

Demuro-Correll said he did not communicate with Mitchell and the victim after they met at the location.

Anthony Mitchell was interviewed at PSP Fern Ridge and detailed how he, Correll and Lemont planned on robbing the victims.

Mitchell said he accidentally fired the gun, and that the bullets traveled through the vehicle but did not strike anyone.

He said Demuro-Correll was at the driver side carrying a 9 mm pistol and began firing into the vehicle. Immediately thereafter, they fled the area and disposed of the guns.

Mitchell said that Demuro-Correll injured his hand, either from the glass or firing the gun.

All three teens were charged with one count of homicide in the death of Aiden Paiz.

They were arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Colleen Mancuso, and taken to the Monroe County Correctional Facility.