Kevin Shareed Harmon, 38, of Gwynn Oak, Md., was sentenced by Lancaster County Judge Craig Stedman after a jury found him guilty in March of Third-Degree Murder, Theft By Unlawful Taking, and Firearms Not To Be Carried Without A License in the April 23, 2023, killing of 54-year-old Miguel Vazquez-Ruiz, according to the Lancaster County District Attorney’s Office.
Stedman sentenced Harmon to 27 to 54 years in state prison and ordered him to pay more than $6,500 in restitution, prosecutors said.
During the sentencing hearing, Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Ponessa called Harmon “an absolute liar” who told “lie after lie” to investigators and the jury while attempting to blame Vazquez-Ruiz for his own death.
“He concealed evidence,” Ponessa told the court. “He concealed himself. All to get away with murdering someone.”
Although the jury acquitted Harmon of First- and Second-Degree Murder charges, Ponessa argued jurors rejected his claim that he acted in self-defense by instead convicting him of murder rather than manslaughter.
According to prosecutors, Harmon shot Vazquez-Ruiz five times, including a final shot after the victim had fallen to the ground. A medical expert testified during trial that the final gunshot was delivered “execution-style.”
Ponessa noted Harmon admitted during his own testimony that Vazquez-Ruiz was “crawling on the ground” when he fired the final shot.
Rather than trying to help the wounded man, Harmon went through Vazquez-Ruiz’s pockets and belongings, stealing more than $2,000 in cash before leaving his body along the southbound shoulder of Route 222 in Brecknock Township, prosecutors said.
Ponessa also described texts Harmon sent to his son after the killing as “shockingly cold,” noting he discussed finally being able to pay his overdue rent and go shopping.
Two of Vazquez-Ruiz’s brothers spoke before the court, urging the judge to impose a lengthy sentence.
“For $1,900 I can never see my brother again,” one of the victim’s brothers said.
Ponessa also argued that the public remains at risk because neither the murder weapon nor the firearm Harmon claimed Vazquez-Ruiz had during the encounter has ever been recovered.
Judge Stedman called Harmon’s actions “beyond stupid” and described his decision to steal money from Vazquez-Ruiz as he lay dying as “despicable.”
Before sentencing, Harmon’s mother described him as a “very active father” of eight children with eight different mothers and asked the court to impose a sentence that would allow him to one day return to his family.
Speaking on his own behalf, Harmon expressed “remorse” for Vazquez-Ruiz and his family, asked for forgiveness, and requested “another chance.”
The sentence follows Harmon’s conviction after a weeklong jury trial earlier this year.
Prosecutors argued Harmon killed Vazquez-Ruiz for cash after struggling financially. Text messages and voice messages introduced at trial showed Harmon telling his son he was behind on rent.
In one voice message sent just minutes after the killing, Harmon said he “just got some extra cash because of this ride,” according to the DA’s Office.
Vazquez-Ruiz’s fiancé told investigators he had left their Baltimore home with several thousand dollars in cash before meeting Harmon.
Investigators identified Harmon as a suspect through surveillance footage from Vazquez-Ruiz’s home and other locations showing the victim entering Harmon’s vehicle before the killing.
When first interviewed, Harmon claimed two unknown men in another vehicle suddenly shot Vazquez-Ruiz and that he fled in fear. Investigators later linked Harmon to the shooting through DNA evidence.
A Pennsylvania State Police K9 alerted to gunshot residue on the center console of Harmon’s vehicle. Investigators also recovered additional gunshot residue and Vazquez-Ruiz’s blood from boots seized from Harmon’s home, prosecutors said. The murder weapon has never been recovered.
Pennsylvania State Police Trooper George Lockhart investigated the case and filed the charges.
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