Columbia teen charged in fatal shooting of 17-year-old
A 16-year-old was arrested after a July 18 shooting in a Columbia residence that killed a 17-year-old; he faces multiple charges and was denied bail.
Jose Manuel Lopez III, 16, was arrested by Columbia Borough police and Lancaster County detectives and charged with third-degree murder, involuntary manslaughter, possession of a firearm by a minor and three counts of recklessly endangering another person after 17-year-old Wilfredo Garcia was shot in the head inside a Plane Street residence on July 18. Lopez initially denied being in the room but later admitted to holding the handgun and knowing the magazine was loaded when he pointed it with his finger on the trigger; several others were present and no one else was struck. Two firearms were recovered, the investigation is ongoing, Judge Miles Bixler denied bail and Lopez remains at the Lancaster County Youth Intervention Center; Assistant District Attorney Callista Chartier will prosecute.