Two Teens Charged in Easton Robbery

Two 18-year-olds were in the middle of committing an armed robbery on Easton’s South Side Friday night when the daughter of one of the victims started crying in another room, according to city police.

The mother, who had been hiding in a locked bedroom with another adult before the gunmen broke down the door, went into a hallway to console her child.

The mother was accompanied by the man with the gun. He displayed the weapon – a black revolver -- in front of the child, the records say.

The gunman, who earlier threatened to kill the adults, ordered the mother to place the “kids” back in their room. Another female child was in the house, the records say.

No shots were fired, and police caught the fleeing 18-year-olds nearby, also recovering the gun and some stolen property, comprised of electronic items.

The alleged gunman, Taharka Senghor Jr., and the other man, Teron Hawkins – both of Easton – are facing a host of charges, including robbery, burglary, terroristic threats and, for Senghor, firearm not to be carried without a license.

The incident occurred on the 100 block of E. Wilkes-Barre Street. Hawkins lives a little more than a block away on the 300 block of Folk St. And Senghor lives about a dozen blocks to the west on the 1000 block of W. Wilkes-Barre.

According to a criminal complaint filed by city Patrolman Jeffrey Crosson:

--When police arrived around 11pm, they were told two men were running east of E. Wilkes-Barre. Police were able to apprehend them in that area.

--Crosson spoke to the two adults, who said the men forced open the home’s rear door. The adults went into a bedroom and locked the door, but the men eventually broke it down.

--Senghor pointed the revolver at the adults and demanded “everything they had.” He also said, “If any cops show up, I’m going to kill you.”

--The child then began crying in another room, and the mother went to console her, accompanied by Senghor.

--Senghor later removed an Xbox 360 and Nintendo Wii from the bedroom, while Hawkins took a 42-inch Vizio television and DVDs from the living room.

--When police captured the men, the Xbox 360 and Nintendo Wii were near them.

Senghor and Hawkins were arraigned between 4:40am and 5:05am Saturday by on-duty District Judge Robert Hawke of Lehigh Township and committed to Northampton County Prison in lieu of $70,000 bail each.

Senghor, who also listed a Bethlehem address, is scheduled to have a formal arraignment Thursday (Dec. 13) in Northampton County Court on a previous charge of possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia out of Easton.

Hawkins said in his case file he faced two counts of aggravated assault from June 2011, but online records from Northampton and Lehigh counties list no such charges.