Man pleads guilty to lesser charges for role in deadly shooting in York

A man could soon be released from custody after pleading guilty on Wednesday to lesser charges for his role in a deadly shooting in York.

Brandon DeJesus, 30, of York, was initially facing charges including first- and third-degree murder in the killing of Luis “Pily” Inoa, 27, of Shenandoah, Schuylkill County, which happened at South Duke and East South streets on April 15, 2018. But prosecutors later said the evidence did not support those offenses.

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Instead, DeJesus pleaded guilty to recklessly endangering another person and persons not to possess firearms for a sentence of 11 1/2 to 23 months in York County Prison and three years' probation.

Common Pleas Judge Harry M. Ness said he was satisfied with the prosecution’s explanation and accepted the plea agreement, which made DeJesus immediately eligible for parole — though he has a detainer in Dauphin County. He’s been locked up for 555 days.

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“There’s no good outcome,” said Chief Deputy Prosecutor Chuck Murphy, who added that authorities tried their best to hold those involved in the shooting accountable based on what law enforcement could prove. “Nothing is going to bring Mr. Inoa back for his family.”

DeJesus, he said, admitted to having a shotgun.

Murphy said the autopsy appeared to show that there were shotgun pellets in the body. Ballistic evidence, he said, later revealed that type of weapon was not used in the killing.

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Inoa’s friend, Chayanne Ramirez, 30, of York, pleaded guilty in 2019 to persons not to possess firearms for a sentence of four to 10 years in prison.

Ramirez, the evidence revealed, fired the fatal shot.

In a statement, Irene Reinoso-Vega, Inoa’s sister, described her brother as a beautiful, kind and caring person who loved his three daughters. He was a barber, she said, and full of life.

“Brandon has no remorse for what he has done,” Reinoso-Vega said. “He is the definition of a menace to society.”

Reinoso-Vega said her loved ones do not forgive DeJesus.

“The only thing that comforts my family is one day he will have to answer to God,” she said.

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Korey Leslie, DeJesus’ attorney, said someone had called his client and told him that his sister was involved in a fight. 

When DeJesus showed up in the area to protect her, Inoa appeared. And Ramirez fired several times, Leslie said.

Leslie said his client admits to having a shotgun, which he wasn't legally allowed to possess. He denies firing any shots.

Said Leslie: “I’m just glad that the evidence revealed that Brandon DeJesus did not commit a murder, was not firing a gun at Luis Inoa, that his name has been cleared in that respect.”

Contact Dylan Segelbaum at 717-771-2102.