A patrol sergeant making his usual rounds spotted four young men running out one of the buildings at the Legends at Preston apartment complex. At about the same time, at 9:40 p.m., a call came in that 21-year-old Phillip Taing had been shot and killed at the apartment complex.
Investigators said the teens took a small safe from 21-year-old Phillip Taing's apartment at Legends at Preston and then shot him in the chest. They said robbery was the motive for the shooting.
Police arrested 19-year olds Devon Carter, David Edwards, Arthur Reese, and Reese's 17-year old brother, Jason. Investigators said the teens had two guns -- a rifle and a pistol. Authorities said the teens used the rifle to shoot Taing.
Authorities also said drugs were found at the scene, but Taing's friends said he was not killed for drugs.
"The house was known, but he wasn't a huge dealer or anything. His family was really wealthy," said Ray Aguila, Taing's friend.
All four teenagers are charged with first-degree murder and robbery. They will make their first court appearance Monday.
Police said the murder is the town's first since 1989. Melvin Bailey was arrested for that deadly shooting, but after investigating, it was determined the shooting was in self-defense, so the charges were dropped. Prior to that case, no one in the Morrisville Police Department can remember the last murder.
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