POTTSTOWN, PA – Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin R. Steele and Pottstown Police Chief Mick Markovich announce that arrest warrants have been issued for Samir Bentley, 20, of Philadelphia, for First-Degree Murder, and Eric Baker, 26, of Norristown for Aggravated Assault in the Oct. 23 shooting death of 27-year-old Robert Stiles in Pottstown.
The murder happened on Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021. Pottstown Police were dispatched at 8:26 p.m. to 429 E. High Street. The officer found Stiles lying on the sidewalk suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was transported by ambulance to Reading Hospital, where he later died of his injuries.
A joint homicide investigation was launched by Montgomery County Detectives and Pottstown Police. The homicide was captured on Pottstown’s video surveillance cameras. The video shows several men gathered in the area of 439 E. High Street. One Black male can be seen handing something to Bentley, who is known to police. Bentley then fires three shots directly at the victim, who falls to the ground. Bentley, along with the male who handed him the item and another Black male, flee the area and get into a dark-colored minivan. As the minivan pulls away, a Black male with dreadlocks and wearing a sweatshirt with “Glock” on the front, is seen firing an assault rifle at the minivan as it flees. Also seen on the video surveillance are the white Toyota and black Nissan leaving the scene.
Several minutes after this shooting, Pottstown Police responded to a two-vehicle accident at North Washington and Beech Streets involving a white Toyota Corolla and a black Nissan Altima. Witnesses reported seeing four people running from the Nissan; one man had dreadlocks and was a carrying an assault-style rifle.
At the murder scene, three .45-caliber, one 9mm and seven .22-caliber fired cartridge casings were recovered. Detectives also recovered a cellphone that was dropped as the shooters fled. The phone’s background photo was of Bentley.
At the crash scene, a search warrant was executed on both cars. A 9 mm Smith and Wesson handgun was recovered from the Toyota, and a Pennsylvania ID update card belonging to Eric Baker was found in the Nissan. Detectives obtained a photo of Baker and were able to identify Baker as the male firing the assault rifle at the fleeing minivan.
On Oct. 24, 2021, an autopsy was conducted on the body of Robert Stiles by Dr. Supriya Kuruvilla, who determined the cause of death was multiple gunshot wounds and the manner of death was homicide.
“This cold-blooded murder was captured on the surveillance system monitored in real time by the Pottstown Police, and we have issued arrest warrants for the shooter and another involved in less than 48 hours,” said DA Steele. “We need the public’s help in finding Bentley and Baker. They should be considered armed and dangerous.”
Bentley is wanted on charges of First-Degree Murder, Third-Degree Murder, Criminal Conspiracy and Possessing an Instrument of Crime. He is a Black male; stands 5-feet, 8-inches tall; and weighs 130 pounds.
Baker is wanted on charges of Aggravated Assault, Person Not to Possess a Firearm and Recklessly Endangering Another Person. He is a Black male; stands 5-feet, 10-inches tall; and weighs 170 pounds.
If anyone spots either man, call 911 immediately. Anyone with information on either man’s whereabouts or this murder, contact the Pottstown Police at 610-970-6570 or call the Montgomery County Detectives’ Tip Line at 610-278-DOIT (3638). Anonymous text tips can be submitted using MontcoCrimeTips on the STOPit! app. The STOPit! app can be downloaded for free from the App Store for iPhones or Google Play for Androids, then use code MONTCOPA to get the Montgomery County version of the app.