The Lancaster County District Attorney’s Office intends to seek a death sentence upon conviction of a Lancaster man charged with killing a man and wounding another outside a city bar last month.
On Thursday, Assistant District Attorney Travis S. Anderson filed notice of intent to seek a sentence of death against 34-year-old Alexander Cruz.
Cruz is charged with numerous counts, including homicide and attempted homicide, for the Feb. 9 killing of Marcus McCain outside O’Halloran’s Pub on Fairview Avenue.
Cruz, who opened fire on a sidewalk outside the bar, also wounded McCain’s brother.
Cruz, formerly of South Lime Street, is at Lancaster County Prison without bail. He waived a preliminary hearing last week.
In the notice, Anderson cites three aggravating circumstances that jurors should consider at sentencing. They are:
- Cruz committed a killing while committing another felony;
- During the killing, Cruz presented a grave risk of death to another person (McCain’s brother);
- Cruz has a criminal history of use or the threat of violence, regarding a prior felony conviction.
Lancaster city police Officer Richard Mendez filed charges, which also include two felony counts of illegal possession of a firearm.
Assistant District Attorney Ryan Tilley is assisting in the prosecution.
Cruz is presumed innocent.
MEDIA CONTACT: Brett A. Hambright, 717-295-2041; bhambright@co.lancaster.pa.us; Twitter: @BrettHambright