A Philadelphia man was convicted last Friday in connection with the 2016 killing of a Bristol Township man who was celebrating his 38th birthday.
Advertisements
George Javon Clark, 34, was found guilty of third-degree murder, robbery, criminal use of a communication facility, attempted theft, and criminal conspiracy in the July 2016 death of Herbert Lyals, a father of three, according to the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office.
Senior Court of Common Pleas Judge Thomas Branca has ordered a pre-sentence investigation and scheduled sentencing for a later date.
Deputy District Attorney Thomas Gannon, who prosecuted the case alongside Deputy District Attorney Chad Kovack, told jurors during closing arguments that Clark, a former resident of the nearby Bloomsdale neighborhood, and an accomplice went to Truman Street specifically to rob Lyals after hearing he had money.
Advertisements
Lyals was then shot and killed during the robbery
Gannon described Lyals as a “velvet teddy bear” whose life was violently taken.
Advertisements
Lyals was found deceased on the sidewalk outside a family member’s home in the 5600 block of Truman Street at 12:46 a.m. on Wednesday, July 27, 2016, after officers responded to a 9-1-1 call.
Lyals had just stepped out of his birthday party when the shots ran out.
Witnesses at the trial testified to hearing gunshots and finding Lyals shot, with his cellphone nearby. Lyals sustained gunshot wounds to his face and chest, and two 9-millimeter casings were recovered near his body.
Advertisements
The charges against Clark and his alleged accomplice, John Marquis Wilson, 45, of Philadelphia, were filed in April 2024 after a years-long investigation by detectives from the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office and the Bristol Township Police Department, along with a indictment from a Bucks County Investigating Grand Jury.
Detectives presented a meticulous timeline during the trial, utilizing surveillance footage, cellphone data, and cell tower pings to track the defendants’ movements.
Advertisements
The investigation revealed six calls between Lyals and Wilson between midnight and 12:45 a.m. on the day of the murder, and 15 calls and two text messages between Wilson and Clark between 10:36 p.m. on July 26, 2016, and 2:16 a.m. on July 27, 2016.
According to court papers, Clark had prior encounters with law enforcement, including a firearms offense in Philadelphia.
Advertisements
Wilson is awaiting trial on charges including third-degree murder and conspiracy to commit criminal homicide.
District Attorney Jennifer Schorn shared her gratitude to the investigative and prosecution teams.
Advertisements
“Their unwavering commitment, especially in utilizing advanced investigative techniques like cellphone data analysis and thoroughly gathering witness testimony, has been instrumental in uncovering the truth and bringing justice to the family of Herbert Lyals, a beloved father senselessly killed on his birthday,” the district attorney said.
Advertisement
Meet Your Canna Coach: Personalized Guidance, Free for You!
The Growing Use of Cannabis in Women’s Health
Shop Now: cannaremediesnj.com/shop
Advertisements
Report a correction via email | Editorial standards and policies
