A suburban man is under arrest for allegedly arranging the contract killing of his lover's other man, authorities said Friday.
Tyuan Simon is accused of setting up the Oct. 19, 2010, murder of Tyree Whiting in Norristown, according to the Montgomery County District Attorney's office.
On that night, police responded to a shots-fired call on the 1100 block of Swede Street and found 34-year-old Whiting dead of multiple gunshots.
Police said they received information early in their investigation that "L.B." was responsible for shooting Whiting, and detectives eventually determined that person was Bruce Woods, Jr.
And police say several concerned citizens told them that Simon had hired Woods to commit the murder.
According to prosecutors, Simon and Whiting had dated the same female and had been in conflict over their mutual love interest.
Prosecutors now say the two suspects spoke at a Willow Street tavern on the night of the murder. It was during this conversation that Simon claimed Whiting had supplied information against him to police and allegedly told Woods he had a "dime," meaning $10,000, on Whiting's head.
Several witnesses later told investigators that Simon said he picked Woods because he was known for doing what others told him to do.
Authorities say Woods followed Whiting out of the tavern that night, pulled a gun on him, demanded money and shot Whiting after he emptied his pockets and tried to run away. Then, Woods allegedly stood over his victim and fired more shots.
On Wednesday, Woods entered a guilty plea to third-degree murder, criminal conspiracy to commit murder, two counts of robbery, possession of a firearm and related offenses, saying it was all at Simon's direction.
Woods faces up to 77-154 years in prison as a result of his plea, prosecutors said.
Simon was arrested Thursday at the State Correctional Institute at Forest, where he was already serving a prison sentence. He's being held without bail and faces an Aug. 10 court appearance.
Tyuan Simon (Courtesy: Montgomery County D.A.'s Office)
