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 will spend up to two decades behind bars for shooting another teenager in the face after a dispute.
On Sept. 24, Jay-Quan Edward Williams, 17, pleaded guilty to one count of attempted criminal homicide, two counts of aggravated assault and one 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.
In turn, Lancaster County Court of Common Pleas Judge Thomas Sponaugle sentenced the defendant to 9 1/2 to 20 years in prison, according to a press release issued on 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 underlying incident occurred on Oct. 8, 2025, on West Strawberry Street, near Culliton Park in Lancaster City, authorities said.
"Video footage from the area depicted Williams interacting with a group of juveniles which included the victim," the press release reads. "As the interaction became heated, Williams could be heard on the video asking the victim if he wanted to die before brandishing a weapon that had been concealed in his waistband."
"Bro, you wanna die?" the defendant, then 16 years old, asked the victim just before the shooting, a prosecutor told the court.
When the victim tried to walk away and turned to talk with someone else, Williams fired a single shot toward his face and fled. The bullet mutilated the victim's jaw, authorities said.
The defendant remained taciturn during the sentencing hearing and did not speak when given the chance to allocute.
A public defender, however, lamented how "two young men's lives irrevocably changed for the worse" because of the incident and said it was "fortunate" the victim was not killed.
The attorney added that her client 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 must also pay more than $13,000 in restitution to the victim for his extensive medical bills, the court ruled.