In the afternoon of June 27, 2017, Elizabeth Vega-Tirado, a 48-year-old woman, was tragically killed. She had just left Bev's Grocery, a corner market in York, Pennsylvania, and was attempting to cross the street when she was caught in the crossfire of a shooting. A bag of groceries lay beside her where she fell at the intersection of West Princess Street and South Belvidere Avenue.
The incident occurred at approximately 3:45 p.m. as gunfire erupted between two groups.
As Vega-Tirado stepped into the street, a vehicle cut her off. When she stepped back to avoid the car, she was struck by a stray bullet to the head. Emergency services were dispatched to the scene, but her injuries proved fatal.
An investigation by the York City Police led to the arrest of a 16-year-old, Leandro Pilier. Witnesses reported seeing Pilier step off a nearby porch, pull a handgun from his waistband, and fire eastward down the street, in the direction of where Vega-Tirado was struck. After the shooting, he was seen walking away from the area through a breezeway. Police recovered three 9mm and two. 22 caliber shell casings at the scene.
Leandro Pilier was charged as an adult with criminal homicide. In September 2018, the now 17-year-old was convicted of third-degree murder. Subsequently, in November 2018, he was sentenced to 15 to 30 years in state prison for the murder of Elizabeth Vega-Tirado.
