Inset: Jay-Quan Edward Williams (Lancaster Police Department). Background: A park near where Williams shot another teenager in the face in Lancaster, Pa. (Google Maps).
A Pennsylvania teenager has been sentenced to as many as 20 years in prison for shooting another teenager in the face following a dispute.
On Sept. 24, Jay-Quan Edward Williams, 17, pleaded guilty to attempted criminal homicide, two counts of aggravated assault, and single counts of recklessly endangering another person, possessing a firearm as a minor, carrying a firearm without a license, and possessing a firearm as a person prohibited from doing so.
Lancaster County Court of Common Pleas Judge Thomas Sponaugle sentenced Williams to 9 1/2 to 20 years in prison, according to a press release issued Thursday by the Lancaster County District Attorney’s Office.
“This is a profoundly sad case,” the judge said, according to a courtroom report by 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 happened Oct. 8, 2025, on West Strawberry Street near Culliton Park in Lancaster City, authorities said.
Video recorded in the area showed Williams interacting with a group of juveniles, including the victim, according to the district attorney’s office. The exchange grew tense, and Williams was heard asking the victim whether he wanted to die before pulling a gun from his waistband.
“Bro, you wanna die?” the defendant, who was 16 at the time, asked the victim moments before the gunfire, a prosecutor told the court.
The victim attempted to leave and turned to speak with someone else when Williams fired one shot toward his face before running away. The bullet severely mutilated the victim’s jaw, authorities said.
Williams remained silent during the sentencing hearing and declined to speak when given an opportunity to address the court.
A public defender said the incident had “irrevocably changed for the worse” the lives of two young men. She also noted that it was “fortunate” the victim survived.
The attorney said Williams was “deeply remorseful.”
“No amount of ‘I’m sorrys’ are going to change the outcome,” the attorney said. “He’s here to take accountability today.”
Williams was also ordered to pay more than $13,000 in restitution to help cover the victim’s extensive medical expenses.