Inset: Jay-Quan Edward Williams (Lancaster Police Department). Background: A park near the Lancaster, Pennsylvania, location where Williams shot another teenager in the face (Google Maps).
A Pennsylvania teenager has been sentenced to as many as 20 years in prison for shooting another teenager in the face during a dispute.
Jay-Quan Edward Williams, 17, entered a guilty plea on Sept. 24 to attempted criminal homicide, two counts of aggravated assault, recklessly endangering another person, illegal firearm possession by a minor, carrying a firearm without a license and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.
Lancaster County Court of Common Pleas Judge Thomas Sponaugle sentenced Williams to 9 1/2 to 20 years in state prison, according to a press release issued Thursday by the Lancaster County District Attorney’s Office.
“This is a profoundly sad case,” Sponaugle said, according to a courtroom report from Lancaster Online. “Throwing your life away in a matter of a few seconds. This is one of those cases where I wish I could send you into the military.”
The shooting took place Oct. 8, 2025, on West Strawberry Street near Culliton Park in Lancaster City, authorities said.
According to the district attorney’s office, video showed Williams among a group of juveniles that included the victim. As the exchange grew more tense, Williams was heard asking whether the victim wanted to die before pulling a gun from his waistband.
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A prosecutor told the court that Williams, who was 16 at the time, said to the victim, “Bro, you wanna die?” moments before opening fire.
The victim began walking away and turned to speak with someone else when Williams fired one round toward his face, then ran from the scene. The bullet severely damaged the victim’s jaw, officials said.
Williams showed little emotion during the sentencing hearing and declined to speak when the court gave him an opportunity to address the judge.
His public defender said the shooting had permanently altered the lives of both teenagers and noted that it was fortunate the victim survived.
The attorney also told the court that Williams was “deeply remorseful.”
“No amount of ‘I’m sorrys’ are going to change the outcome,” she said. “He’s here to take accountability today.”
In addition to his prison sentence, Williams was ordered to pay the victim more than $13,000 to cover extensive medical expenses.
