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The original item was published from 3/1/2018 9:55:41 AM to 6/9/2018 5:15:09 PM.

News Flash

District Attorney

Posted on: March 1, 2018

[ARCHIVED] Death Penalty Notice Filed in Shooting Outside Lancaster Bar that Killed 1 Man, Injured Another

AlexanderCruz

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

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