A downtown parking lot confrontation turned deadly, ending with a decades-long prison sentence for a Lancaster man convicted of murder.
Lancaster, PA – A city man convicted of fatally shooting another man outside a downtown bar in 2023 was sentenced Wednesday to 19 to 39 years in state prison, capping a case that prosecutors said stemmed from a heated argument that escalated into gunfire.
Terrance Tyrone McCain, Jr., 40, was sentenced by Judge Jeffery Wright after a jury found him guilty in November of third-degree murder and recklessly endangering another person in the death of 38-year-old Edward Gardner.
Before imposing the sentence, Wright told McCain he acted “intentionally and with malice” when he shot Gardner three times. The judge added the punishment reflected “the cold-blooded nature of the crime.”
Shooting captured on video and detailed in court
Prosecutors said the shooting occurred shortly after 1 a.m. on Sept. 30, 2023, outside the now-closed Capps Bar in the 900 block of South Duke Street. Assistant District Attorney Elizabeth Lapp argued McCain had multiple chances to walk away before retrieving a handgun from his vehicle during an argument with Gardner.
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“Instead, Lapp said, video footage from outside the bar as well as a nearby business showed McCain retrieving a handgun from his vehicle while arguing with Gardner in the bar’s parking lot shortly after 1 a.m.”
Key Points
- Lancaster man sentenced Wednesday to 19 to 39 years for 2023 fatal shooting
- Victim Edward Gardner was shot three times outside downtown bar
- Prosecutors say suspect retrieved gun during argument and fired multiple rounds
According to prosecutors, McCain then escalated the confrontation. “McCain later racked the gun, loading a bullet into the chamber,” Lapp said. “As the heated argument grew in intensity McCain approached Gardner face-to-face, where he brandished the weapon and fired once, striking several of Gardner’s vital organs.”
Lapp told the court McCain continued firing as Gardner attempted to flee. “McCain then fired another two rounds into Gardner’s back before running away without rendering aid or calling for help,” she said. “He took the life of Eddy and then took off.”
Gardner was transported to a hospital in a private vehicle but later died from his injuries, which included a gunshot wound that lodged in his heart. The firearm used in the shooting was never recovered.
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Courtroom statements and sentencing
Prior to sentencing, McCain addressed the court, acknowledging his actions. He said he “did a horrible thing,” expressed a desire to take accountability, and apologized to Gardner’s family.
Family members rejected the apology. “It’s fallen on deaf ears over here,” one of Gardner’s older brothers told the court.
Prosecutors argued the shooting was not spontaneous. Lapp said McCain’s actions were not an “impromptu” reaction but were driven “out of jealousy” and personal animus toward Gardner.
Eyewitnesses identified McCain as the shooter, and investigators later confirmed his identity through social media. Lancaster City Bureau of Police Det. Ryan Burgett filed the charges, and Det. James Boas represented city police during the trial.
As part of the sentence, McCain was also ordered to pay more than $14,500 in restitution.
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