Lancaster County murder: 17-year-old sentenced to 32 ½ years to life in prison
A 17-year-old, Elijahuwon Brown, was sentenced to 32 ½ years to life in prison for the 2021 shooting death of 23-year-old Rolando Rivera in Lancaster County, authorities said.
Brown, of Lancaster, was sentenced for killing Rivera in the 500 block of Third Street in August of 2021. Brown was 14 at the time of the murder, according to the Lancaster County District Attorney’s Office.
Brown was sentenced on April 19 by Lancaster County Judge Merrill Spahn after pleading guilty in October 2023 to charges of criminal homicide and two firearm offenses.
On Aug. 27, 2021, around 9:44 p.m., Lancaster City police found Rivera lying dead on the 500 block of Third Street with multiple gunshot wounds to the head and torso. Police also found eight Blazer brand 9mm shell casings on the scene, the DA’s office said.
The Lancaster County coroner determined Rivera’s cause of death to be multiple gunshot wounds and the manner to be homicide.
Detectives located video footage showing Brown walking behind Rivera but on the opposite side of Manor Street. When Rivera made it to Third Street, Brown ran up behind him and started shooting multiple times at Rivera. After Rivera fell down, police said Brown continued to shoot at him.
After the shooting, Brown ran away from the scene.
Brown was charged, arrested, and arraigned on Sept. 2, 2021, and committed to Lancaster County Prison without bail, according to the DA’s office.
Brown faced a maximum sentence of life in prison, but because he was under the age of 15 when he committed the murder, he was not subject to the mandatory life sentence that adults would face, the DA’s office said. The minimum sentence Brown faced was 25 years.
During the sentencing hearing, Brown apologized to Rolando’s family, according to a report from Lancaster Online.
“I am truly sorry to Rolando’s family,” he said, adding he acted selfishly.
