LANCASTER, PA – Elijahuwon Brown, a 16-year-old resident of Lancaster city, pleaded guilty last Thursday to the murder of 23-year-old Rolando Rivera, which occurred on August 27, 2021. The incident took place on the 500 block of Third Street, where Rivera was found deceased following a shooting.
The Lancaster County Coroner’s Office declared the cause of death to be multiple gunshot wounds, ruling the incident a homicide.
Brown, residing on the 700 block of Manor Street, faced charges of criminal homicide, possession of a firearm by a minor, and person not to possess a firearm. Lancaster County Judge Merrill Spahn accepted the open plea and will determine the sentence following a presentence investigation.
On the night of the incident, at approximately 9:44 p.m., the Lancaster City Bureau of Police responded to reports of a male lying in the street after gunshots were fired.
Detectives discovered video footage showing Brown and Rivera in the 500 and 600 blocks of Manor Street prior to the homicide, capturing the shooter firing multiple times at the victim. Brown was charged, arrested, and arraigned on September 2, 2021, and committed to Lancaster County Prison without bail.
The minimum sentence Brown faces is 25 years, while the maximum is life in prison.
