Bar bump leads to throat-slashing and 45-year sentence for Manor Township man
Lancaster, PA — A minor barroom bump turned into a violent ambush outside a Lancaster city bar, ending with a man nearly killed by a throat-slashing attack and the perpetrator sentenced to up to 45 years behind bars.
Syeen Hill, 45, of the 200 block of Stone Mill Road in Manor Township, was sentenced on November 24 to 20 to 45 years in state prison after a jury found him guilty in October of attempted criminal homicide and related charges. The case stemmed from a July 28, 2024 incident in which Hill slashed a man’s neck following an argument inside a downtown bar on North Queen Street.
Assistant District Attorneys Emily Corcuera and Chris Miller told the court Hill’s actions were deliberate and calculated, not a heat-of-the-moment response. Surveillance footage showed Hill following the victim outside the bar shortly after 2 a.m., then striking him with a knife across the neck. The seven-inch wound came dangerously close to being fatal, prosecutors said, but the victim survived — in part due to his size and physical condition.
In court, Hill claimed he acted in self-defense, stating that the victim “towered over” him during the confrontation. Hill said he “wasn’t looking for trouble” and never intended to kill. But Judge David Ashworth wasn’t convinced, telling the defendant his actions showed clear intent and could have easily been deadly.
An anonymous tip to police supported the prosecution’s case, revealing that Hill had argued with the victim inside the bar and later bragged that the man “didn’t see it coming.” Footage from inside the bar and street-level cameras operated by the Lancaster Safety Coalition also captured Hill holding a weapon just before the attack.
Hill’s defense team asked for a shorter sentence, citing his lack of prior violent history and age. Hill himself told the judge that even a 15-year sentence “would be a lifetime” for him. But Judge Ashworth said the violent nature of the crime — and the unprovoked nature of the attack — warranted a severe punishment.
Hill was convicted of attempted criminal homicide, aggravated assault, recklessly endangering another person, and possession of an instrument of crime.
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Key Points
- Syeen Hill sentenced to 20 to 45 years for slashing a man’s neck after bar altercation
- Surveillance and witness tip revealed Hill ambushed the victim after an argument
- Victim survived a seven-inch neck wound due to his physical condition