Jonaston Cordell Nathan Martin, a 16-year-old boy from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, was known for his love of family and his engaging personality. Born in Lancaster on July 6, 2010, to Nicole L. Bell and William Brooks Martin, Jonaston was a student in the 11th grade. He is remembered by his extensive family, including his parents, siblings William J. I. Martin and Yalon Sireea Nicole Martin, and many grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins.
His loved ones created a memorial to share memories of a life they say was tragically cut short.
The evening of Saturday, October 3, 2026, turned fatal for Jonaston. He was inside the Garcia Mini Market at 432 South Duke Street, near the intersection with Locust Street, with an 18-year-old friend, Amani Dean. At approximately 7:55 p.m., two men were seen on surveillance video walking toward the store. One of the men, later identified by police as 23-year-old Jaiden Tavaughn Servance, entered the market and opened fire. Jonaston was struck four times—in the neck, chest, shoulder, and arm. The store clerk was just feet away but was not injured.
When officers from the Lancaster City Bureau of Police arrived, they found Jonaston lying just inside the entrance of the store. He was pronounced dead at the scene. An autopsy later confirmed his death was a homicide caused by multiple gunshot wounds. His friend, Amani Dean, was also shot in his right leg and left arm but survived with non-life-threatening injuries. Investigators recovered six .40-caliber shell casings from the floor of the market.
The investigation into the shooting was swift. Using surveillance footage from inside and outside the store, detectives identified Servance as the shooter. According to court documents, Servance was seen on video firing at the victims before he and the other man, who wore a red jacket, fled the scene. Jonaston's mother, Nicole Bell, later told reporters she believed the shooting stemmed from a false accusation. She said two individuals had come to her house twice in the preceding weeks, accusing her son of stealing a gun. They searched his room both times but found nothing. Bell said her son even offered to pay for the supposedly stolen gun to "squash the beef."
On October 4, 2026, the day after the shooting, the Lancaster City Bureau of Police filed a criminal complaint against Jaiden Tavaughn Servance. An arrest warrant was issued, charging him with criminal homicide, criminal attempt to commit homicide, recklessly endangering another person, and carrying a firearm without a license. Authorities noted that Servance's concealed-carry permit had been revoked at the time of the shooting.
In the days following Jonaston's death, the community gathered to mourn and call for justice. A memorial of candles and notes grew outside the Garcia Mini Market. A vigil was held, and on October 9, friends, family, and community members held a prayer walk in his honor. His family held a viewing for him on October 11 at a local funeral home.
As of October 2026, Jaiden Tavaughn Servance remains a wanted man. Police have described him as being 6 feet tall and weighing approximately 225 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. Lancaster County Crime Stoppers has offered a reward of up to $5,000 for information that leads to his arrest. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities have asked anyone with information about Servance's whereabouts to contact Detective Brandon McCormick of the Lancaster City Police at 717-735-3300.
