Jacqueline Nicole Carey, a 32-year-old White/Caucasian female, was killed on November 4, 2016, in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, after a night that began as a family gathering and ended with gunfire outside a home on Farragut Street. Carey, a mother of six, was visiting her sister’s residence when a disturbance outside drew attention from inside the house. She went to a window to see what was happening, and a bullet came through the moment, striking her in the chest.
She was taken to Uniontown Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
The shooting was described as the result of violence that spilled out from a party at the Farragut Street home. According to police accounts reported in local coverage, Ronald “Raz” Andrew Crossland had been at the gathering earlier that evening and was asked to leave after an argument. Investigators alleged that after someone pushed him, Crossland brandished a handgun, left the building, and fired shots from outside. One of those shots hit Carey, who had not been the person involved in the argument but had simply gone to the window after hearing the commotion.
For weeks after Carey’s death, her family waited for an arrest while grieving the sudden loss. Her husband, Richard Schoch, was left raising their six children and spoke publicly about the pain of the holidays without her. Police said early in the investigation that they had persons of interest, but they were still waiting on evidence including cellphone records, ballistics results, and gun residue testing. Investigators also noted there were no working surveillance cameras in the area, making witness information and forensic evidence especially important.
Ronald Crossland, of Uniontown, was later charged in connection with Carey’s death. Reports identified him as the accused shooter and said he was charged with third-degree murder, firearms-related offenses, and drug counts. During preliminary proceedings, Crossland was held for trial on third-degree murder and other charges. His defense attorney argued that no one had actually seen Crossland fire the fatal shot and pointed out that the gun was found near another man, but prosecutors continued forward with the case based on the police theory that Crossland had brandished the weapon and fired after being removed from the party.
The case also included a pretrial dispute over statements Crossland made to police. His attorney argued that investigators knew Crossland had an attorney when they interviewed him, while a detective testified that Crossland had not requested an attorney during the interview, though he mentioned being represented on another matter. A judge was tasked with deciding whether those statements could be used as the murder case moved toward trial.
In January 2020, Crossland pleaded guilty before Fayette County Judge Joseph M. George Jr. to third-degree murder, discharging a firearm into an occupied structure, prohibited possession of a firearm, and two drug charges. The plea meant he admitted criminal responsibility in the shooting death of Jacqueline Carey rather than taking the case to trial. As part of the plea agreement, prosecutors recommended a sentence of 12 to 24 years in prison, along with restitution if any was owed in the case. The online reports located described the recommended punishment and guilty plea, but did not provide a confirmed final sentencing date or final imposed sentence in the available coverage.
