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A Johnstown man has been accused of robbery, burglary, criminal conspiracy and more after the Altoona Police Department wrapped up a monthslong investigation.
According to court documents, Tahjir Aneaus Triplin, 19, is facing felony charges of conspiracy to robbery, burglary-bodily injury crime, burglary-person present, possession of a firearm prohibited, receiving stolen property, robbery-threat of immediate bodily injury, criminal trespass, aggravated assault and firearms not to be carried without a license, as well as misdemeanor charges of terroristic threats and simple assault.
According to court documents, the charges stem from an Oct. 11, 2021, incident on the 600 block of 10th Street, Altoona, in which Triplin allegedly hit a woman twice with a pistol and threatened the woman's son.
The son told police that he was out with friends and after he came home that night, there was a knock on the door. When he opened the door, he told police he was met by a man who pulled a gun from the waistband of his pants, pointed it at him and grabbed him, saying, "you're coming with me." The son managed to escape, closed the door and went upstairs to get his mom.
The door was kicked open and his mom went to see what was going on while the son stayed hidden. The people inside the house asked the woman, "Where's young bull?" and said, "I want the dough," the son told police.
The son also reported that the man said, "If you don't come out, I'm gonna hit your mom again."
The men left the house when his mother called for her daughter to get a gun.
The son identified Triplin as the man who came into the house, threatened him and hit his mom, according to court documents.
During the investigation, police received warrants for Snapchat accounts, video surveillance and conducted additional interviews with the son and mother, as well as others suspected to be involved in the incident.
Police said during a November interview, the son admitted he was to sell 3.5 grams of marijuana to Triplin. He also admitted that he was on the porch with Triplin when Triplin allegedly pulled the gun.
While talking with police in November, the mother said she confronted her son over the alleged deal and told him that it was clear the people coming from Johnstown were going to rob him because they wouldn't come the whole way from Johnstown just to buy weed.
Search warrant results showed Snapchat pictures of Triplin with the gun, police reported, noting that the gun was stolen in September from a vehicle in Geistown, Cambria County. Triplin, who was 18 at the time of the incident, was not to possess a firearm or a concealed carry weapon permit, police said.
Triplin was arraigned Friday by Magisterial District Judge Daniel C. DeAntonio and, unable to post $100,000 cash bail, he was remanded to the Blair County Prison. A preliminary hearing is set for March 23 with DeAntonio.