PENN TOWNSHIP, PA — A 49-year-old man has been sentenced to life in prison plus an additional five to 10 years after pleading guilty to the 2024 murder of his wife, the Lancaster County District Attorney’s Office announced.

Matthew Scott Harrison admitted in court Wednesday to charges of first-degree murder and strangulation for killing his wife, Jami Harrison, 49, at their home on East Mount Hope Road on February 5, 2024. One of Jami’s daughters later discovered her body.

During sentencing, Judge Jeffrey Conrad told Harrison he had a duty to protect his wife but instead committed “one of the most cowardly acts a man can do.” Harrison offered limited remarks in court, stating there was “no reason” to elaborate on his actions but later claimed he was sorry.

Prosecutors revealed Harrison had sent more than 120 degrading and threatening messages to Jami in the days leading up to the killing and had communicated his intent to harm her to family and co-workers. After the murder, he admitted to investigators that he believed he had “set her free.”

Jami’s daughters addressed the court during the hearing, describing the lasting trauma of losing their mother and calling Harrison abusive and cowardly. One daughter said Jami was “our only true parent” and that Harrison “stole that from us.”

In addition to the prison sentence, Harrison was ordered to pay $6,500 in restitution.

ALLENTOWN, PA — A 54-year-old Philadelphia man was arrested Wednesday evening after allegedly threatening his girlfriend with a firearm and leading police on a vehicle pursuit through Allentown and into Whitehall Township, authorities said.

Allentown Police responded around 8:00 p.m. to the 700 block of N 11th Street after receiving a report that a woman had been threatened by her boyfriend, who sent images displaying a firearm and warned he intended to come to her residence to harm her.

Officers identified the suspect as Thomas Kravitz, of the 6500 block of Rising Sun Avenue in Philadelphia. After spotting his vehicle, officers attempted a traffic stop, but Kravitz struck a police car and fled. A pursuit followed, during which Kravitz collided with multiple other vehicles before being taken into custody without further incident in Whitehall Township.

A loaded firearm was recovered at the scene.

Kravitz is facing multiple charges including: Persons Not to Possess Firearms, Firearms Not to Be Carried Without a License, Fleeing or Attempting to Elude Police, Accidents Involving Injury While Not Properly Licensed, Terroristic Threats, Resisting Arrest, Tampering with Evidence, Criminal Mischief, and Driving Under the Influence.

A Philadelphia man was arrested after allegedly threatening his girlfriend with a gun and fleeing police, resulting in multiple crashes and the recovery of a loaded firearm.

WILKINSBURG, PA — Allegheny County Police have arrested a 17-year-old in connection with the fatal shooting of a man found dead on a Wilkinsburg sidewalk earlier this year.

On January 4 at approximately 8:25 p.m., authorities responded to the 1000 block of Ross Avenue, where they found 19-year-old Dorrel Ferguson deceased. The Wilkinsburg Police Department requested assistance from the Allegheny County Police Homicide Unit.

Following an investigation that included witness interviews and review of surveillance footage, detectives identified Khalil Valcin as the suspect. Valcin turned himself in at Pittsburgh Municipal Court on July 23 and is now being held at the Allegheny County Jail.

Valcin is charged with homicide and possession of a firearm by a minor.