Teen charged with shooting juvenile in face during city park argument waives preliminary hearing

A Lancaster City teenager charged with shooting another juvenile in the face during an argument near an urban park will have his case proceed to county court after waiving his preliminary hearing last week.

Jay-Quan Edward Williams, of the 300 block of East Liberty Street, waived his preliminary hearing before Judge Adam Witkonis on Nov. 6 on charges of attempted criminal homicide, two counts of aggravated assault and a single count each of recklessly endangering another person, possession of a firearm by a minor, firearms not to be carried without a license and persons not to possess a firearm.

Williams, 16, is accused of shooting the victim in the face near Culliton Park in the 200 block of West Strawberry Street in Lancaster city the afternoon of Oct. 8.

Police arrived shortly after 3 p.m. to find the victim had suffered a gunshot wound to the cheek, mutilating their jaw. The victim was taken to a local hospital and required surgical intervention.

Video footage from the area purports to depict Williams interacting with a group of juveniles which included the victim. As the interaction became heated, Williams can be heard on the video asking the victim if he wanted to die before brandishing a weapon that had been concealed in his waistband.

When the victim walked away and began speaking with an innocent bystander Williams can be seen firing a single shot before fleeing.

As a juvenile Williams is not eligible to carry a concealed weapon.

Williams remains at the Lancaster County Youth Intervention Center in lieu of $250,000 bail.

Lancaster City Bureau of Police Officer Brandon McCormick filed the charges.

All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.