Pernell Simmons, a 35-year-old man from Carbondale, PA, tragically lost his life on August 8, 2022, due to a drug-related shooting. The incident occurred at the Fallbrook Street Apartment complex, where Simmons was found shot multiple times in the chest. The Lackawanna County Coroner pronounced him dead at the scene.
Following a prompt investigation, Pennsylvania State Police arrested Taaj Qaadir Blan, 21, of Moosic, for homicide and related charges.
Blan's mother, Margaret Del Castillo, 46, was also arrested on charges related to obstructing officers and destroying evidence. Surveillance footage revealed that Simmons approached Blan's car before being shot. Witnesses reported that Simmons, along with two unidentified minors, had driven to Carbondale's West Side Park for a drug deal that went wrong.
During the investigation, police recovered a spent 9MM Luger casing and traced the ownership of the car involved in the shooting to Blan. Blan was found guilty of third-degree murder and sentenced to 18 to 40 years in prison. Del Castillo, however, was found not guilty of tampering with evidence and obstruction.
The Simmons family, including his parents and widow, provided emotional testimony during the trial, expressing the profound impact of his death on their lives. Blan, in court, apologized to the Simmons family, stating that he had no animosity towards Simmons and that he genuinely feared for his life.
This tragic event has left a lasting impact on the community and the Simmons family, who continue to seek justice and closure for Pernell Simmons' untimely death.
