Two Philadelphia men were sentenced today, Nov. 14, 2025, to lengthy terms in state prison for the 2016 fatal shooting of Herbert Lyals, 38, in Bristol Township.

George Javon Clark, 34, who was previously convicted in July of third-degree murder following a weeklong jury trial, was sentenced to 20 to 40 years in state prison by Senior Judge Thomas C. Branca.

John Marquis Wilson, 45, who pleaded guilty today to third-degree murder, robbery, criminal use of a communication facility, and conspiracy, was sentenced to 16 to 32 years in state prison.

During the sentencing hearing, the victim’s loved ones gave powerful impact statements. Lyals' mother told Judge Branca, “The night that they took my son, they took a part of me with them.”

Lyals, a father of three, was tragically killed on his 38th birthday.

Clark was found guilty on July 18, 2025, of third-degree murder, robbery, criminal use of a communication facility, attempted theft, and criminal conspiracy.

Deputy District Attorney Thomas C. Gannon, who, along with Deputy District Attorney Chad Kovack, prosecuted the case, told jurors that Clark and Wilson had gone to Truman Street that night specifically to rob Lyals after hearing he had money. During the commission of the robbery, Clark shot and killed Lyals.

Gannon powerfully underscored the profound loss suffered, telling jurors that Lyals, a devoted father of three, was a caring and peaceful man whose life was violently taken. “He was a 'velvet teddy bear,'” Gannon said.

The investigation revealed crucial details about the events leading up to Lyals’ death, including multiple calls between Lyals and Wilson, and numerous calls and text messages between Wilson and Clark in the hours before and after the murder. Authorities determined Lyals was shot at 12:45 a.m. on July 27, 2016, immediately after stepping outside his cousin's residence where he had been celebrating his birthday.

The case was solved through an extensive investigation by detectives with the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office and the Bristol Township Police Department, along with a recommendation from the Bucks County Investigating Grand Jury.

The lead investigators, Bucks County Detective Eric Landamia and Bristol Township Detective Alex Asmann, were instrumental in both the initial investigation in 2016 and the subsequent re-investigation that led to these charges.

Media Contact: Manuel Gamiz Jr., 215.348.6298, mgamiz@buckscoounty.org.

Herbert Lyals