Claywaun Bender, a 17-year-old Black / African American male from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, was shot on the night of December 30, 2015, in the first block of South 17th Street. Police were called to the scene at about 8:30 p.m. and found him suffering from a single gunshot wound. He was taken from the South 17th Street scene to Hershey Medical Center, but he later died from his injuries.
The shooting became known as Harrisburg’s last reported homicide of 2015.
Online reports described the incident as unfolding inside or around a residence on South 17th Street, with police arriving after gunfire was reported. During the investigation, authorities recovered two firearms and heroin, details that later became part of the charges filed against the person accused in the killing.
Detectives arrested Jonmere Armonn Pryor shortly after 2 p.m. on January 7, 2016. Pryor was identified in news reports as a teenager at the time of the arrest and was accused of being involved in Bender’s shooting death. Authorities said the investigation had been made more difficult because Pryor allegedly tampered with the crime scene after the shooting.
Pryor was charged with criminal homicide and tampering with evidence in connection with Bender’s death. Reports also listed additional charges tied to what police said they found during the investigation, including possession with intent to deliver heroin and carrying a firearm without a license. Gun Violence Archive listed Jonmere A. Pryor as the subject-suspect in the incident and noted that he was arrested.
Claywaun was remembered in his obituary as “Clay,” a Harrisburg high school student who liked football, basketball, and spending time with friends and cousins. His death came at the end of a violent year for the city and left his family mourning a teenager whose life ended before the new year arrived. Available online reporting confirms Pryor’s arrest and the charges filed, but the reviewed sources did not provide clear public details on a later trial outcome, plea, conviction, acquittal, or sentencing.
