A Columbia teenager charged with killing another teen while handling a firearm in a borough residence and three others charged with firearms and evidence tampering and hindering offenses will have their cases proceed to county court.

Judge Miles Bixler ruled Sept. 1 that the case of Jose Manuel Lopez III, of the 200 block of Lawrence Street, could proceed to the Court of Common Pleas on charges of third-degree murder, involuntary manslaughter, possession of a firearm by a minor and three counts of recklessly endangering another person.

Three others charged in connection to the same incident waived their cases before Bixler the same day. Bryant Ramos, of the 2200 block of Oak Hollow Drive in West Hempfield Township, was charged with hindering apprehension or prosecution, tampering with evidence, criminal conspiracy to commit both and carrying a firearm without a license; Xxavior Michener, of the 900 block of Plane Street in Columbia Borough, was charged with carrying a firearm without a license; Tamara Rosario, also of the 900 block of Plane Street in Columbia Borough, was charged with hindering apprehension or prosecution, furnishing alcohol to minors and corruption of minors.

A 17-year-old male was charged with hindering apprehension or prosecution, tampering with evidence, criminal conspiracy to commit both, carrying a firearm without a license and possessing a firearm as a minor.

Each of the defendants were inside Rosario’s residence in the 900 block of Plane Street when Lopez is alleged to have caused the death of 17-year-old Wilfredo Garcia the evening of July 18.

Officers found Garcia inside the residence unresponsive. Police attempted life-saving measures but determined Garcia was beyond help.

In interviews with police Lopez initially denied being in the room at the time of the shooting before later admitting to holding the handgun that was fired. Lopez admitted to police that he knew the weapon’s magazine was loaded when he pointed it at Garcia with his finger on the trigger.

As a juvenile Lopez is not allowed to possess a firearm. 

Michener, 19, is accused of possessing the 9mm handgun that was determined to have been used in the shooting prior to the shooting taking place, while Garcia possessed a 40-caliber handgun. 

The teenagers, all of whom knew each other and some of whom were drinking alcohol, were handling the weapons, firearm parts and accessories throughout the evening. Rosario, 42, who is Garcia’s mother, is accused of providing the alcohol that some of the teenagers were drinking throughout the evening. 

At one point during the evening while Lopez is alleged to have been handling the 9mm handgun it discharged and killed Garcia.

After the shooting, Ramos, 19, and the juvenile gathered the two weapons and gun parts in a shoe box, removed them from the scene and hid them in different locations. After conducting numerous interviews and searching multiple locations, police found the 9mm handgun determined to have been used in the shooting in the Lititz area. The 40-caliber handgun was recovered by police in the York area and additional gun parts were recovered from a vehicle in the Mount Joy area. 

In interviews with police, Rosario, though aware of who was present at the time, denied knowing how many people were in her home and concealed their identities from law enforcement. 

As the investigation continued police were able to identify each of the parties present and interviewed them multiple times over the period of more than a week. 

Lopez remains in the Lancaster County Youth Intervention Center without bail. Individuals charged with homicide are not eligible for bail.

Ramos, Michener and Rosario are all currently free on $50,000 unsecured bail.

Columbia Borough Police Officer Frank Ember III filed the charges.

Assistant District Attorney Callista Chartier will prosecute the cases.

All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.