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.<\/p>\n
Stedman sentenced Harmon to 27 to 54 years in state prison and ordered him to pay more than $6,500 in restitution, prosecutors said.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
“He concealed evidence,” Ponessa told the court. “He concealed himself. All to get away with murdering someone.”<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.”<\/p>\n
Ponessa noted Harmon admitted during his own testimony that Vazquez-Ruiz was “crawling on the ground” when he fired the final shot.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Two of Vazquez-Ruiz’s brothers spoke before the court, urging the judge to impose a lengthy sentence.<\/p>\n
“For $1,900 I can never see my brother again,” one of the victim’s brothers said.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Judge Stedman called Harmon’s actions “beyond stupid” and described his decision to steal money from Vazquez-Ruiz as he lay dying as “despicable.”<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Speaking on his own behalf, Harmon expressed “remorse” for Vazquez-Ruiz and his family, asked for forgiveness, and requested “another chance.”<\/p>\n
The sentence follows Harmon’s conviction after a weeklong jury trial earlier this year.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Vazquez-Ruiz’s fianc\u00e9 told investigators he had left their Baltimore home with several thousand dollars in cash before meeting Harmon.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Pennsylvania State Police Trooper George Lockhart investigated the case and filed the charges.<\/p>\n