On a cold January evening in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, a young man's life was tragically cut short in a hail of gunfire. Nineteen-year-old Elliot Corbin III, a male, was on the balcony of his apartment on South Prince Street on January 6, 2024, when he was fatally shot. Responding to reports of shots fired at approximately 5:28 p.m., police found Corbin with a gunshot wound. He was rushed to a local hospital but ultimately succumbed to his injuries. The Lancaster County Coroner's Office later confirmed that the cause of death was a gunshot wound and ruled the manner of death as a homicide.
The investigation into Corbin's death soon revealed a story of betrayal and a deadly plot allegedly orchestrated by those close to him. Investigators discovered that Corbin had been in a relationship with 19-year-old Joy Cleveland and that the two had an argument shortly before the shooting, which resulted in Corbin asking her to leave his apartment. In the hour that followed their fight, a chilling series of text messages unfolded. Police uncovered deleted texts from Cleveland's phone in which she repeatedly asked Corbin to come out onto his balcony. Corbin's responses indicated he was fearful, even texting back that he believed she was trying to set him up to be killed.
Surveillance footage from the area proved to be a critical piece of evidence. The cameras captured a tall, thin, masked man, later identified by police as 20-year-old Ta'jhon Veal, lurking near Corbin's apartment. The footage showed Veal walking past the residence multiple times before he allegedly fired a gun from around a corner, striking Corbin as he stood on the balcony. Phone records further implicated the suspects, showing communication between Veal and Cleveland, who are first cousins, just before the murder.
Within weeks, arrests were made. On January 26, both Ta'jhon Veal and Joy Cleveland were taken into custody. Veal faces charges of criminal homicide, criminal conspiracy to commit homicide, and carrying a firearm without a license. Cleveland is charged with criminal homicide and criminal conspiracy to commit criminal homicide. The investigation didn't end there. In March, a third suspect, 19-year-old Jalani Morales, was arrested. Morales, who was in a relationship with Veal, is accused of taking significant steps to assist in the planning and cover-up of the murder, including driving Veal from the scene after the shooting. She faces a string of charges, including criminal homicide, criminal conspiracy, and hindering apprehension. All three defendants have been held in Lancaster County Prison without bail and are awaiting their formal arraignment.
