Man Gets Life In Prison For Role In Triple-Shooting

A 28-year-old man avoided the death penalty Monday but learned he will spend the rest of his life behind the bars.

County Judge Rea B. Boylan sentenced Eric Dillard Jr. Monday morning to imprisonment for life instead of the death penalty for his role in a July 2014 Bristol Township robbery that ended with two men dead and a third who was injured. He also received a 20- to 40-year sentence for the attempted murder of the third man.

In her decision, Boylan noted that Dillard’s “chaotic childhood” and the fact the prosecution wasn’t able to prove he planned the botched robbery or fired the fatal shots played a role in her decision. However, she did look at his criminal history, risk to others during the robbery and the fact that two men died and one was badly injured.

Last week, Dillard was found guilty of two counts of first-degree homicide.

Deputy District Attorney Antonetta Stancu said the families of those killed – Tyrone Moss, 31, and wheelchair-bound Joshua Johnson, 29 – were extremely satisfied to know that Mr. Dillard will not be in the community at any time.” She added the sentenced added closure for them.

Lamel Duffy survived after being shot in the head and neck but did not testify at trial last week. Duffy, according to the district attorney’s office, could not be located for the trial but was taken into custody on a warrant late last week in Montgomery County.

“How could one not be satisfied with the fact that somebody will serve the rest of their lifetime in jail?” Stancu told reporters. “I certainly feel that it is a just outcome.”

Attorney Niels Eriksen, who represented Dillard along with Craig Penglase, told LevittownNow.com that he was pleased with the outcome of the sentencing.

In court Eriksen made the case that Dillard had not been free from the custody of mental health or law enforcement facilities for more than a year since the age of 11. His childhood was messy and had trouble conforming to the laws of a society which he had lived freely in for such a short period of time.

Dillard had first been institutionalized at age 9 and then 11 for mental health treatment, Eriksen said.

According to prosecutors, Moss and Johnson were bound and shot dead inside a rented home at 913 Winder Drive around 12:30 a.m. on Tuesday, July 8, 2014. Duffy survived his near-fatal injuries and managed to alert a neighbor.  

Dillard, Demetrius Antonio Baker, 31, and Anthony King were involved, according to court papers. King was killed in Philadelphia a few weeks after the triple-shooting.

In a statement, prosecutors said the robbery was motivated by  “substantial marijuana and as much as $30,000 cash” believed by King to be in the Winder Drive home that Johnson resided in.

Cash, clothes, sneakers, a watch and an Xbox were taken during robbery, court papers stated.

Evidence has indicated that King fired the headshots that killed Moss and Johnson.

Baker, who awaits trial, went outside after the robbery and was waiting in a getaway car when the shots rang out.