A teenager has been sentenced to more than six to 12 years in state prison in the murder of a local high school football player that investigators said stemmed from a botched drug-related robbery.
The (Lansdale) Reporter reports that 17-year-old Harrison Moss apologized as he was sentenced last week in Bucks County Court.
Moss pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter, robbery, conspiracy and a weapons charge in the October 2016 shooting death of 19-year-old Iziah Lewis in Kulp Memorial Park in Perkasie.
Defense attorney Robert Goldman said his client thought he was acting in self-defense. Moss told the victim's family that "Every night I wish I could take back what I've done."
Moss was one of four teenagers charged, but the cases against the other teens were transferred to juvenile court.
Lewis was a wide receiver for the Pennridge High School football team and graduated in 2015. News of his death sparked a huge response on social media with friends and teammates sharing their memories of him by using the hashtag #RIPZay.
“He was a wonderful young man and he was appreciated by everyone on the team,” Pennridge coach Jeff Hollenbach told NBC10. “It’s horrible news for all of us.”
