Con who escaped in July held in Oct. slaying

A convicted felon who escaped from a Philadelphia halfway house in July has been charged with killing a man in October in Norristown.

Bruce "L.B" Woods Jr., 26, of Norristown, was arraigned yesterday in Montgomery County Court on murder, robbery and other charges, the Montgomery County District Attorney's office said.

After serving time in state prison for robbery and firearms violations, Woods was in a halfway house for a week and then fled, authorities said. A warrant was issued July 29 for his arrest.

Almost three months later, on Oct. 19, Norristown police found the bullet-riddled body of Tyree Whiting, 34, on a sidewalk.

The next day, police recognized Woods as a wanted man and arrested him at his home, where they recovered a loaded Ruger semi-automatic handgun, which matched the bullets found in Whiting.

Five days before Whiting was killed, Woods allegedly stole the gun from an unidentified woman and robbed her of $50 and a cell phone, authorities said.