Post-College Party Killing Suspects Seek Dismissal

Two men are seeking dismissal of charges in the shooting death of a northeastern Pennsylvania college student after a night of partying last spring.

Ryan Harding, 18, and Marlon Clotter, 22, are charged in Lackawanna County in the May 5 death of 22-year-old Lackawanna College student Rahsan "Duke" Crowder.

The (Scranton) Times-Tribune reports that defense attorneys argue that no evidence supports the idea that the defendants intended to kill, so charges of first-degree murder and conspiracy are unwarranted.

They also want their clients' statements to police barred as evidence, saying neither fully understood their rights.

Clotter's attorneys want any trial moved to another county. Harding's attorneys asked that jurors be chosen from nearby Monroe or Pike counties.

Prosecutors say they can prove intent and conspiracy in the case.

Authorities say Crowder, Harrisburg, Pa. resident, was pronounced dead a little more than an hour after he was shot near the school's campus in Scranton. At the time, acting police chief Carl Graziano said officers had responded to the area for a report of a shooting and found Crowder with gunshot wounds.

Graziano said police believe Crowder had attended a party near the crime scene and had been involved in some sort of argument.

Last year, Deputy District Attorney Robert Klein said that prosecutors will not seek the death penalty if the defendants are convicted of first-degree murder.

Earlier, defense attorneys argued that the evidence doesn't support murder charges because there is no indication of premeditation. Prosecutors countered that the pistol jammed twice before they allege that Harding shot Crowder in the chest. They allege that Clotter encouraged the shooting and provided the weapon.

Witnesses said that Crowder was first struck in the leg and was trying to limp away when Harding allegedly fired the deadly shot to the chest.

After the killing, a university spokeswoman called it “a terrible tragedy.” The spokeswoman, Wendy Evans, said the university was “absolutely heartbroken.”

Copyright AP - Associated Press
Contact Us