On December 30, 2021, Dauntel Xavier Evans received a sentence to 6 to 12 years in a State Correctional Institution for third degree murder in connection with the death of Nicholas Morales.  The Commonwealth agreed to an open plea to third degree murder with the sentence determined by Judge Royce L. Morris. This sentence concludes a lengthy investigation that included retaliation and intimidation charges for four other defendants. 

On August 2, 2019, the Harrisburg Bureau of Police responded to South 13^th Street for a report of shots fired. Upon arrival, officers found Nicholas Morales with a single gunshot to his stomach area. Morales died of his wound despite being rushed to the hospital. During the investigation, police pulled surveillance video footage which showed the shooter walking towards the scene of the shooting just before it occurred. Officers were able to identify another individual who was walking behind the shooter. That trailing individual identified the shooter to police and gave a statement describing how the defendant drew a firearm and shot Nicholas Morales. 

On May 1, 2020, police arrested Dauntel Evans on the charge of criminal homicide of Nicholas Morales. Evans was 16-years-old at the time of the murder.  Officers served a search warrant at his residence and left a copy of the search warrant and probable cause affidavit, as required by law.   Using Facebook Live, a group of individuals threatened and identified a witness named in the affidavit. These individuals—Sean Evans, Jakiy Evans, Fontaine McClure and Kevin Marshall—located the witness and then dragged the witness outside for the purpose of assault.   The witness suffered injuries as a result   After the assault, Facebook Live videos featured boasts about the assault on the witness to the murder.

This led to arrests for burglary, witness intimidation, retaliation against a witness, simple assault, and criminal conspiracy. Jakiy Evans, Sean Evans and Fontaine McClure pleaded guilty to the charges of burglary, two counts of intimidation of a victim or witness and Criminal Conspiracy to those charges, retaliation against victim or witness, simple assault, and felony counts of criminal conspiracy.   McClure received a sentence of 3 to 6 years in a State Correctional Institution along with his other docket that was pending at the time for an aggravated assault. Both Jakiy Evans and Sean Evans received 2½ to 5 years in a State Correctional Institution.  Kevin Marshall pleaded guilty to burglary and simple assault and received a sentence of 2 to 5 years in a State Correctional Institution.  “The seriousness of the charges and sentences are indicative of our concern that witnesses and victims have be protected when they do step forward.  Such retaliation will not be tolerated.  Our system relies on protections for those witnesses and victims so that they are able to be heard and a situation like this fly against those protections.”

This case concludes a painful chapter for several families impacted by the events of August 2, 2019, and the chain reaction that followed. During the sentencing hearing for Dauntel Evans, Nicholas Morales’ fiancé and brother spoke.  They described the impact that his death had on their family and continues to have on them.   Judge Morris heard from multiple people on behalf of Dauntel Evans about how his actions on August 2, 2019, do not define him. They emphasized that he had a lot of promise as an athlete, scholar, and leader.  Chief Deputy District Attorney noted that, “this case was tragic all around.  The victims and the Commonwealth are sympathetic to the defendant’s promise, but the fact is he pleaded guilty to third degree murder based on his actions that day.” 

Chief Deputy District Attorney Sarah M. Phillips and Deputy District Attorney Kadin Brown prosecuted the cases.  The investigation was conducted by Corporal Jacob Pierce of the Harrisburg Bureau of Police and Detective John O’Connor of the Criminal Investigation Division of the District Attorney’s Office.