POTTSVILLE -- Pottsville police charged two young men with first-degree murder on Friday for a stabbing death in the city.
Joshua Lukach, 18, and Shavinskin Thomas, 21, are both from Pottsville. Police say they were arraigned Friday night on charges that also include aggravated assault and robbery. They are locked up without bail.
According to Pottsville police, the two used a kitchen knife and a box cutter to stab John Brock, 59, early Thursday morning inside his home on South 12th Street. Brock was found lying in the street outside his home.
Police say Lukach and Thomas went to Brock's home around 3 a.m. Thursday in order to rob him. But, when Brock saw their faces, Lukach and Thomas decided that they had to kill him.
The two then fled with about $200 and Brock's ATM card. Police say the suspects later used that bank card to withdraw $60, which they used to buy food and lottery tickets.
Pottsville police say Lukach and Thomas have each confessed. Police have not released why exactly Brock was targeted by the two men.
Both Lukach and Thomas have been in trouble with the law, but nothing to this extent.
Up until last year, John Brock owned a bike shop in downtown Pottsville. That`s where people in the area say he kept to himself, but also gave away free bicycles to kids who needed them.
"Very generous man," said Ada Damico of Pottsville. "And a very quiet unassuming man I knew of. Whenever I was in town and said hello and we'd chat about bikes for about 10 minutes."
