Man found guilty of hit-and-run in crash that killed 4-year-old Dakota Wright in Hanover
Tony Shower Jr., 35, of York, faces a mandatory minimum sentence of three to six years in prison. Common Pleas Judge Michael E. Bortner set sentencing for Jan. 3, 2020.
Dylan SegelbaumDakota Wright was struck and killed by a white van on Princess Street across from her home in Hanover on Nov. 22, 2016.
One the third anniversary of the girl's death, her family received some measure of justice in the York County Court of Common Pleas.
The driver of the white van, Tony Shower Jr., 35, of York, was found guilty on Friday of accidents involving death or personal injury and driving under the influence. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of three to six years in prison.
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"We're pleased and appreciative for the jury's verdict," First Assistant District Attorney Tim Barker said outside the courtroom, "and we'll reserve further comment until after sentencing."
The jury deliberated for about five hours. The York County District Attorney's Office dropped a charge of driving on a suspended license after the verdict came down.
During his closing argument, Barker said law enforcement took its time and didn't rush to judgment.
York County detectives found three hairs near one of the front headlights of the van, which matched the DNA profile of Dakota and her maternal lineage. Law enforcement also discovered a fabric-transfer pattern underneath the vehicle that was consistent with a jacket that the girl had been wearing at the time.
Matthew Markle testified that he saw the van that night. He later identified four men in a photo lineup who matched the description of the driver. One of them was Shower.
The owner of the van, Stephen Gambal III, testified that he and Shower smoked crack throughout the day and twice drove to Baltimore to buy drugs. Shower, he said, also shot up heroin.
Gambal testified that Shower dropped him off at a restaurant and bar in Penn Township to meet another drug dealer.
Prosecutors argued it was during that time when Shower struck and killed the girl. He was driving about 22 mph, but he neither braked nor took any evasive action, according to testimony.
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Barker described the evidence that pointed to Shower’s guilt as snowflakes that developed into a massive snowball.
“That avalanche fell. And that avalanche fell on you, Mr. Shower,” said Barker, who tried the case with Senior Deputy Prosecutor Steph Lombardo. “Tony Shower, you did it. The evidence says so. That’s beyond a reasonable doubt. That’s guilty.”
In his closing argument, Assistant Public Defender Eric White, Shower’s attorney, said Gambal lied to investigators and concocted a story to save himself.
At first, Shower told Hanover Borough Police Officer Jared Auman that he didn’t have anything to hide. He said he was not driving the van.
Later, Shower reported that he was asleep in the passenger seat of the vehicle and awoke to a loud thud. Gambal, he told detectives, then pulled over and stated, “I think I just hit a kid," Auman testified.
“You may think Tony’s screwed up, but he wasn’t driving that car,” White said. “You can believe there’s clear and convincing evidence — that’s not enough. They must prove each and every element beyond a reasonable doubt.”
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Common Pleas Judge Michael E. Bortner set sentencing for Jan. 3, 2020.
Shower faces a maximum sentence of five to 10 years in prison for hit-and-run. He's being held without bail in York County Prison.
Contact Dylan Segelbaum at 717-771-2102.
Check out this photo gallery of 4-year-old Dakota Wright and her family, which might also be of interest:
Read past coverage of the case: