York County unsolved murders: He tried to save his son, but Nylik Moore was killed in 2018

Editor's note: This is one in a series of stories on unsolved homicides in York County.

When he moved back from northeastern Pennsylvania, Roger Moore had a mission: stop his son from becoming another casualty of the streets. 

In the 1990s and 2000s, Moore was part of the "Cream team" — a drug-dealing crew from New York —  and ended up doing federal and state time. When he was released from prison, his son was already 10 or 11 years old. 

By that time, Moore said, his son was gravitating toward the streets. He’d break into cars and steal cellphones, like other children in the neighborhood. He later started selling drugs and carrying a gun for protection.

Moore said he tried to steer him away from that path. The streets, he said, don’t love anyone.

“I can’t lose my son to the streets,” said Moore, 43, who’s self-employed and lives outside Wilkes-Barre. “That was my whole motto: I got to save my son.”

But on April 24, 2018, his son, Nylik, was shot and killed on East Maple Street near McDonald Lane in York. He was 18. His murder remains unsolved.

Moore said he believes that some people who might be responsible are locked up on unrelated charges, and another man recently killed himself. He said he’s frustrated with the lack of progress in the investigation and is contemplating hiring a private investigator.

“I kind of feel like I got a little bit of closure,” he said, “but not all the way.”

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‘It was like home’

The elder Moore grew up on West 175th Street and Macombs Road in the Bronx, New York, less than 2 miles from the old Yankee Stadium. He said he was heavily into baseball — he loved players including Rickey Henderson, Don Mattingly and Darryl Strawberry — and would play and collect cards.

Later, Moore said, he started hanging out with the “have-nots.” They’d squeegee windshields of cars on the Bronx Expressway and dance for money on the 4 Train.

Moore said he felt embarrassed; he didn’t need to panhandle. But he liked the independence and how they hustled for their own money. It was something different.

Slowly but surely, Moore said, they went from playing with BB guns to carrying real guns. His street name was Rabbit — think Roger Rabbit, the cartoon character. He also happened to be fast.

They started selling drugs, which is what brought him to York, Pennsylvania. It was quiet, away from the hustle and bustle. The girls loved them. He ran with people such as Danny "Gamble" Steele. That's in addition to Melvin “Fatback” Bethune and Tysheem “Ty Boogie” Crocker, both of whom are now serving mandatory sentences of life in prison without the possibility of parole for first-degree murder.

(Steele testified against his two childhood friends and was later shot and killed in York on Dec. 7, 2013. Police arrested Bethune’s son, Tobias Bethune-Banks, who was later found not guilty of all charges including first- and third-degree murder.)

“It was like home,” Moore said. “Everyone just migrated.”

That’s where he met Cheirha Rankins. Their son, Nylik Roger Moore, was born on Aug. 6, 1999, at York Hospital.

Six months after his son's birth, Moore said, he got locked up on federal charges. He was later incarcerated in a state case.

The U.S. Marshals Service arrested him at a home on West Philadelphia Street. He kept looking out the window. His son had been watching wrestling in the other room, he said, and could tell that something was wrong.

Police kicked in the door. “Damn,” Moore thought, “they got me.”

“He was 5 years old. I’ll never forget,” Moore said. “He was mad, like, he’s pouting, like looking at the cops. I said, ‘Nylik, I love you man.’”

Moore said his son had a great sense of humor. He was passionate about music and liked artists including Wocka Flocka Flame. He started rapping, but then transitioned to R&B and recorded a song called, “Where You Want To Go” under the name G Notes.

He played football for the South York Warriors and was a fan of the New York Giants. Before his death, he was employed through Temp Services of York, according to his obituary.

By the time he was released from prison the second time, Moore said, his son was advanced in the streets. “I used to ride around, chasing this kid, man, trying to get him in order."

When his son was 12, Moore said, he moved to northeastern Pennsylvania to be with his wife’s family. He took a job several years later at ES3 and moved back to York.

Moore said his son was in and out of juvenile detention and that he made an effort to push him to enlist in the U.S. Navy.

At 14, Nylik Moore was adjudicated delinquent of possession of a firearm by a minor. He was put on formal probation, ordered to complete several conditions and placed at a residential treatment facility, according to court records.

Then, at 17, police arrested him on charges of receiving stolen property, carrying a firearm without a license and possession of cocaine. The case was later transferred to the adult court system. He was moved from juvenile detention to York County Prison.

Instead of posting his son’s bail, Roger Moore said he wanted him to sit and experience the “county jail life” as a deterrent, confident that fingerprint evidence would lead to his eventual exoneration.

Later, Roger Moore said, his son’s mother bailed him out.

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‘We would obviously take any tips or new information’

Less than two months later, Nylik Moore went out to visit two friends in "the jungle" — the area of East Maple and South Duke streets — the place where his father used to sell drugs. 

They were walking together when, at about 5 p.m., a vehicle pulled up. “What’s up, now?” the front passenger said. Two people got out, police said, and started shooting.

Nylik Moore was shot in the back and leg and fell to the sidewalk. He was pronounced dead at York Hospital at 5:38 p.m. His friend, Jashan Wilson, was hit in the arm but survived, police said

Officer Derek Hartman, a spokesperson for the York City Police Department, said in an email that he spoke with Detective Timothy Shermeyer, who stated that there isn’t much more to add about the case.

“We would obviously take any tips or new information if someone wanted to provide it,” Hartman said.

When his wife, Christine, told him that there’d been a shooting, Roger Moore rushed to the hospital. Everything seemed to be going in slow motion.

A crowd had gathered outside the emergency room. Police officers were on scene. Law enforcement, in the chaos, ended up arresting Rankins on a charge of disorderly conduct, though the citation was later dismissed.

They didn’t get to see their son’s body until almost one week later at Boulding Mortuary. “He was at peace, man,” Roger Moore said.

In a statement, Matt Heckel, a spokesperson for WellSpan Health, said, “WellSpan Health is committed to being a trusted partner to our patients and our community. That’s why we work continuously and collaboratively to provide safe, high-quality and compassionate care for all.”

Heckel listed several actions that the health care system has taken at the hospital, including adding new private viewing areas for people to spend time with recently deceased loved ones; expediting visitation after the coroner’s review is complete; and providing exceptions and access for family members to enter during lockdown situations.

MORE:Pennsylvania State Police release new photos of car that hit, killed woman in Glen Rock in 2009

'I didn't shoot your son'

Law enforcement announced several hours after the deadly shooting that they were looking to question Shanquay Ritter.

Three days later, Roger Moore said, he followed him to the Fine Wine & Good Spirits Premium Collection in the West Manchester Town Center and called his wife. She hung up and called the cops.

Police arrested Ritter, 23, of York, on charges of possession with intent to deliver cocaine and possessing instruments of a crime. Law enforcement said they found body armor in his car.

After he posted bail, Ritter went to clear his name and make peace, Roger Moore said. Ritter, he said, looked him in the eye and stated, “I promise you, I didn’t shoot your son.”

A grand jury later indicted Ritter on similar charges in U.S. District Court in Harrisburg arising out of his arrest outside the liquor store.

In an email, Dawn Clark, a spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, said the prosecution is part of the Group Violence Initiative, an effort to reduce gun violence in the community.

“We are in constant communication with the authorities in York County about cases,” Clark said. “Speaking generally, we focus on gun and gun violence cases and past and current criminal behavior among other factors in working together to make the decision about the best place for the case. “

His state attorney, George Margetas, said he hasn’t spoken to him recently. His federal attorney, Petra Gross, could not be reached.

Ritter has not been charged in the killing.

READ:'What's this world coming to?' York mom arrested while trying to see dying son at hospital

‘I just want justice for my son’

More than two years later, Roger Moore said he’s still grieving over the loss of his son.

The reminders are everywhere. He recently put a picture of him on the nightstand, next to his father’s ashes. His youngest son was born on April 23. One day after celebrating life, they reflect on death.

Roger Moore said he understands why people aren’t coming forward. They have to live in the community, which is hard enough without being called rats. He realizes that detectives can’t reveal everything about an ongoing investigation.

But Roger Moore said he wants to see those responsible for his son’s murder be convicted and incarcerated.

“I just want justice for my son,” he said.

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Contact Dylan Segelbaum at 717-771-2102.

Do you have information about the murder of Nylik Moore? 

Tipsters, here’s how to help:

• Send in a tip on the CRIMEWATCH App or at www.yorkcitypolice.com.
• Contact York County Crime Stoppers at York County Crime Stoppers at (717) 755-8477 (TIPS).
• Call the York City Police Tip Line at (717) 849-2204.
• Reach out to the York City Police Department at (717) 846-1234 or (‪717) 849-2219.
• York Mayor Michael Helfrich has said if people are afraid to reach out to law enforcement, or don’t believe that their names will be kept anonymous, they can call him at (717) 817-7975.