An Easton man is in custody after he allegedly shot and killed a Good Samaritan who was trying to help him out and then showed a cellphone video of the victim to his mother.
Jeffrey Knoble, 25, is charged in the shooting death of Andrew White.
On March 11 around 8:30 a.m., Knoble’s mother reached out to Easton Police. According to the mother, Knoble called her around 6:30 a.m. earlier that day claiming he was in the car of a person he had just shot. He also told her he needed clothing and was coming to the house, according to investigators.
After Knoble never showed up at the house, his mother left her home on the 1300 block of Liberty Street in Easton. As she was driving on Northampton Street around 7:30 a.m., she found her son, police said.
The woman told police Knoble got into her vehicle and said he had just shot and killed someone. He then allegedly showed her a video on his cellphone that showed him inside a room.
"She also stated the video depicted the body of a nude, black male, thin build, tall and lanky lying face down on a bed in the corner of the room," said Northampton County District Attorney John Morganelli. "She further described blood on or around this unknown male."
Knoble allegedly told his mother he had stripped the man and then shot him in the head. The woman told investigators she became scared and dropped her son off at Northampton Street before notifying police.
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Investigators began searching for Knoble and found him later in the day inside his mother’s home on Liberty Street leading to a standoff situation. Knoble eventually surrendered to authorities.
Around the same time a woman contacted police and informed them that her friend, later identified as 32-year-old Andrew White, had been missing for a while. Police determined White was last seen at the Quality Inn at South 3rd Street and Larry Holmes Drive in downtown Easton.
Police arrived at the motel later that night and found White dead inside a room with a gunshot wound to the head. Investigators gathered evidence inside the room and matched it to a gun Knoble allegedly owned that was found at his mother’s home on Liberty Street.
Investigators determined that earlier that day, White had allowed Knoble to stay inside his motel room. Officials say they believe the two were friends and that White was trying to help him out. It was during that time that Knoble allegedly shot and killed him.
Officials did not specify the circumstances surrounding the shooting but say Knoble will be charged with homicide and robbery in addition to a terroristic threat charge. They also said Knoble was affiliated with a gang though they don’t believe White’s death was gang-related.
Police described White as a Good Samaritan who was well-liked in his community and was simply trying to help out a friend by giving him a place to stay. They also say he had no criminal record and don't believe he was affiliated with any gang.
White was also heavily involved in the Boys and Girls Club of Easton, according to the Express Times.
Officials continue to investigate the incident and are trying to determine if Knoble disposed of any additional evidence. If you have any information, please call 610-250-6635.
