Commonwealth v. M.R.

Police responded to a radio call for shots fired at 1100 Erie Avenue where they discovered a deceased male with multiple gun shot wounds. Detectives gathered video surveillance from numerous sources including the inside and outside of a local bar. The video showed M.R. inside of the bar, who then leaves and gets into a car and drives away. After that happens, an argument involving multiple people ensued outside of the bar. While the argument is ongoing, prosecutors argued that one of the individuals places a phone call, and minutes later M.R. arrives back in his car. At this point, M.R. gets out of his car and the man who placed the call and another male fire multiple shots and kill the decedent. Both shooters get into M.R.’s car and drive away. M.R. was arrested on charges of Murder and Conspiracy. At a preliminary hearing the defense argued that the Commonwealth failed to provide evidence of an agreement to kill, citing the lack of digital evidence (cell phone records) and the spontaneous nature of the incident. A judge agreed and dismissed all charges against M.R.