MILLERSVILLE, Pa. — A Lancaster County man charged earlier this year in connection to a shots-fired incident outside a Millersville University fraternity party will serve up to 36 months in prison followed by two years of probation after agreeing to a negotiated plea deal, the Lancaster County District Attorney's Office said Tuesday.
Donovan Cruz, 20, was arrested in February after being accused of firing blanks from a replica handgun after being denied entry to a party on the first block of North Prince Street in Millersville.
Cruz allegedly broke into the home, where he was confronted by several people who were attending the party. A fight ensued, during which Cruz punched one person in the jaw, produced a realistic-looking handgun, and fired two shots toward the ceiling, prosecutors said. He then pointed the gun at the crowd as people began to flee.
Cruz is also accused of pistol-whipping someone during the fight, prosecutors said.
While the handgun used in the incident was a replica, it was realistic enough that people believed he was firing a real gun, according to Assistant District Attorney Mark Fetterman, who prosecuted the case.
While entering his guilty plea at a hearing before Judge Margaret Miller, Cruz said he was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the incident and that "(He) made a mistake and will have to do the time," prosecutors said.
Miller noted Cruz's young age and advised him to use his time in prison to become a better person, prosecutors said.
Two other suspects were charged in connection to the February 24 incident.
