A late-night hangout in a bedroom in Pottstown ended in tragedy on May 20 when 20-year-old Xavier Jeffers was fatally shot. Now, two of his friends are facing serious charges in connection with his death.
Investigation details
According to the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office, Pottstown police were called to 426 West Street around 9:46 p.m. on May 20. Officers found Jeffers in an upstairs bedroom with a gunshot wound to the head. County detectives recovered a black Glock 43X at the scene and determined its serial number matched a Philadelphia Police report of a stolen firearm dated Dec. 30, 2025. The county coroner later ruled Jeffers’ death a homicide.
What court filings say
Court documents reviewed by The Philadelphia Inquirer state that Jeffers was in the bedroom with 20-year-olds Denajah Bailey and Amaury Sahad when the gun fired. Investigators allege Bailey pointed the handgun at Jeffers and pulled the trigger. Filings also say she had handled the weapon earlier that day and, at one point, pulled the trigger while aiming it at her own head. The Inquirer reports that Sahad first told police he had found the gun abandoned near a Sunoco station, but text messages on his phone appear to show him posing with the weapon weeks before the shooting.
Community reaction
Jeffers’ death has rattled family and neighbors. His mother called him a “beacon of joy” who loved anime and doted on his young niece and nephew, according to Patch. A GoFundMe created to help the family quickly drew donations in the days after the shooting, a sign of how deeply the loss has been felt around Pottstown.
Charges and next steps
The Montgomery County District Attorney's Office said Bailey has been charged with third-degree murder, involuntary manslaughter, possessing an instrument of crime and recklessly endangering another person. Sahad faces charges including receiving stolen property, firearms not to be carried without a license and possessing an instrument of crime. Both were arraigned and released on bail, set at $50,000 (10%) for Bailey and $20,000 (10%) for Sahad, and were ordered to have no contact with co-defendants and witnesses and to stay away from firearms. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 10 a.m. on June 9 before Magisterial District Judge Edward Kropp.
Pottstown police and Montgomery County detectives are still investigating the case, and anyone with information is asked to contact Montgomery County Detectives at (610) 278-3368, Patch reported. Prosecutors have stressed that the charges are allegations and that both defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. The upcoming preliminary hearing will be the next key step in the court process.
