Eric Berkowitz, 41, of Dresher, appeared in court on Tuesday, April 21 after being arrested in February for allegedly offering Steven Luker of Upper Dublin Township $5,000 to murder three people in New York, NBC10 reported.
According to their coverage, Luker told the court that he went to high school with Berkowitz and initially thought the job offer was legitimate.
Berkowitz reportedly “showed him a gun with a loaded magazine, gave him a prepaid cellphone and said they’d be traveling to upstate New York to kill three people”, NBC10 wrote.
According to Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin R. Steele’s announcement in February, Berkowitz’s plan was for the pair to drive to New York on February 11 and meet at a target’s house. The intended targets were Berkowitz’s former girlfriend and two men she had dated since their seven-year relationship ended.
Upper Dublin Township Police and Montgomery County Detectives worked with Luker to record a conversation with Berkowitz, in which Berkowitz confirmed the details of the plan and offered that he would “take care of the girl himself.”
Berkowitz was later arrested by police exiting his home and entering an ride share vehicle. The vehicle was stopped by police, and Berkowitz was arrested. At the time of his arrest, police report that was carrying a duffel bag containing a black Masterpiece Arms Grim Reaper firearm with a loaded magazine containing 23 9mm rounds of ammunition, cocaine and a large sum of cash. Police confirmed with the ride share drive that the destination was a New York address where his former girlfriend lives.
“I’d like to commend Mr. Luker for immediately contacting police after he was approached by the defendant to participate in this murder scheme,” said District Attorney Steele. “He ultimately saved the lives of three innocent people.”
Berkowitz was charged with three counts of Criminal Solicitation for Murder, three counts of Attempted Murder, three counts of Recklessly Endangering Another Person and Person Not to Possess a Firearm.
NBC10’s video coverage is below:
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Photo: Montgomery County District Attorney