LANCASTER, Pa. — A Lancaster man will serve up to seven years in prison after pleading guilty to charges stemming from an April 2022 shooting that injured a teenager.
Jeffery Moreau, 18, pleaded guilty to aggravated assault, receiving stolen property, possession of a firearm by a minor, two counts of reckless endangerment, and tampering with evidence, according to the Lancaster County District Attorney's Office.
He was sentenced to a prison term of 3½ to 7 years at a hearing on Jan. 31 by Lancaster County Judge Merrill Spahn.
Moreau admitted to shooting a 15-year-old Lancaster Township resident in the buttocks during an incident on April 26, 2022, on the 400 block of South Queen Street.
The victim told police that a group of people chased him after an argument before someone he didn’t know shot him, according to prosecutors.
Investigators learned on scene the shooter’s name was Jeffrey and used social media accounts for the defendant to match numerous clothing items to those worn by the shooter.
Lancaster Safety Coalition cameras captured the victim and his group walking toward Moreau and his group, the victim’s group quickly leaving the area, and the defendant running around a corner with a silver handgun chasing the victim.
Moreau fired one shot at the victim’s back when the defendant was standing in the middle of E. Andrew Street, according to police. He initially disengaged his pursuit of the victim, then ran toward the victim again and fired at least one additional shot, prosecutors said.
There was an unknown pedestrian and numerous vehicles in close proximity at the time of the incident, according to prosecutors.
Moreau was then seen running away from the scene and discarding the gun in a metal grate in the 400 block of E. Strawberry Street. Police recovered the firearm, which had been reported as stolen.
Additional witnesses confirmed the identity of Moreau with one stating they believed the defendant fired four shots at the victim.
Assistant District Attorney Janie Swinehart prosecuted the case.
