On January 15, 2025, President Judge Scott Arthur Evans sentenced Jeremy Bailey for the April 2022 murders of two people outside the USA Fried Chicken store at 13^th and Derry Streets in the City of Harrisburg. On April 2, 2022, Bailey was in a dispute with Leonard Quattlebaum and some of Quattlebaum’s friends. Instead of resolving the dispute lawfully, Bailey tried to shoot Quattlebaum, but the gun jammed. Undeterred, Bailey tracked down Quattlebaum at the USA Fried Chicken in the early morning hours of April 3^rd.  He burst into the store, where several patrons were waiting for their food orders. Quattlebaum and a young woman were standing at Pennsylvania Skills Game machines.  As soon as he was through the door, Bailey pointed a silver revolver at Quattlebaum. Quattlebaum ducked and ran out of the store as Bailey gave chase. Immediately outside the store, Bailey fired a shot a Quattlebaum. The shot missed Quattlebaum, but struck innocent bystander Nelbenson “Melvin” Sanchez in the head, killing him instantly. As Bailey continued to chase Quattlebaum, he fired another shot, this time hitting his intended target. The shot went into Quattlebaum’s back and pierced his heart, ultimately killing him.

During trial, Bailey tried to push responsibility for the shootings onto another person. However, the jury was not fooled by the false claim.  After three days of trial, the jury found Bailey guilty of two counts of first-degree murder, unlawful possession of a firearm by a former felon, carrying a firearm without a license, and recklessly endangering another person.  President Judge Evans sentenced Bailey to consecutive terms of life in prison without parole for the two murder charges – one for victim Quattlebaum, and the other for victim Sanchez.  He also sentenced Bailey to a consecutive term of 10 to 20 years for the charge of possession of a firearm by a former felon. Bailey was barred from possessing a firearm because of prior convictions including an aggravated assault conviction. Bailey was on state parole at the time of the murders.

According to First Assistant District Attorney Mike Sprow, Bailey’s conviction is a lesson that should be heeded by others. “This is another tragic example of someone using a gun to resolve a dispute that should have been hashed out with words at best, and fists at worst. Now, instead of some minor injuries and possibly a hurt ego, two human lives have been lost, their families have been shattered, and the defendant will spend the rest of his life behind bars.” Sprow gave credit to Detective Brian Carriere of the Harrisburg Bureau of Police for conducting a thorough investigation, which gave prosecutors the strong evidence they used to secure the conviction and hold Bailey accountable.

The Harrisburg Bureau of Police investigated the murders. First Assistant District Attorney Mike Sprow and Deputy District Attorney Alexandra McNulty prosecuted the case.