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Double Murder Outside Harrisburg Restaurant Leads To Life Sentence

A Harrisburg man who killed two people outside a fried chicken restaurant in April 2022 will spend the rest of his life in prison, officials announced on Tuesday, Jan. 21.

Jeremy Bailey, 34, was sentenced by President Judge Scott Arthur Evans on Monday, Jan. 15, to two consecutive life terms without parole for the murders of Leonard Quattlebaum, 31, and Nelbenson Sanchez, 39, according to the Dauphin County District Attorney’s Office.

The shootings occurred in the early hours of April 3, 2022, outside the USA Fried Chicken store at 13th and Derry streets in Harrisburg. Prosecutors said Bailey had been in a dispute with Quattlebaum and others the previous day and attempted to resolve it with violence.

Initially, Bailey’s gun jammed during an altercation on April 2, but he tracked Quattlebaum to the restaurant hours later. Bailey burst into the store, where Quattlebaum was standing near a Pennsylvania Skills Game machine. Quattlebaum fled, but Bailey followed, firing multiple shots outside the restaurant.

One bullet missed Quattlebaum but struck Sanchez, an innocent bystander, in the head, killing him instantly, police said. Bailey continued his pursuit and fatally shot Quattlebaum in the back, piercing his heart.

During his trial, Bailey claimed another individual was responsible for the killings, but the jury found him guilty of two counts of first-degree murder, unlawful possession of a firearm by a former felon, carrying a firearm without a license, and recklessly endangering another person after three days of testimony, authorities said.

In addition to the life sentences for the murders, Judge Evans imposed a consecutive term of 10 to 20 years for Bailey’s illegal firearm possession, citing his prior convictions, including aggravated assault. Bailey was on state parole at the time of the murders.

First Assistant District Attorney Mike Sprow condemned Bailey’s actions, calling the case a tragic example of gun violence. “This is another tragic example of someone using a gun to resolve a dispute that should have been hashed out with words at best, and fists at worst,” Sprow said. “Now, instead of some minor injuries and possibly a hurt ego, two human lives have been lost, their families have been shattered, and the defendant will spend the rest of his life behind bars.”

Detective Brian Carriere of the Harrisburg Bureau of Police was credited for conducting a thorough investigation that led to Bailey’s conviction. First Assistant District Attorney Sprow and Deputy District Attorney Alexandra McNulty prosecuted the case.

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