Teen sentenced to up to six years in prison for BB shooting in Lancaster County

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LANCASTER, Pa. — A Caernarvon Township teenager has been sentenced to three to six years in state prison after pleading guilty to aggravated assault and related charges for shooting a man with a BB gun and stabbing him during a violent argument last year.

Nicholas Martin, 17, was sentenced by Judge Merrill Spahn on October 28 and was also ordered to pay $226,000 in restitution for the victim’s medical expenses. The charges stem from an Oct. 11, 2023, incident in which Martin, then 16, shot the man inside their home on Division Highway with an AR-style BB gun.

The victim fought back and pushed Martin to the ground, but Martin grabbed a five-and-a-half-inch knife and stabbed the man multiple times in the groin, back, arm and hand, according to court records. The argument ended when a woman intervened and separated the two. Martin then retreated to his bedroom and surrendered to State Police without further incident.

Investigators discovered the incident followed an argument that escalated. Witnesses told police that Martin had threatened the victim earlier that day and told her, “I’m going to kill her now or later,” following an argument the previous evening. Martin also reportedly sent the victim a message daring him to return home and posted his intention to kill the man on social media.

The District Attorney’s Office said Martin admitted to police that he planned to kill the man and spent most of his day armed with two BB guns and several knives.

The case attracted attention for the seriousness of the attack and the significant compensation award aimed at covering the victim’s recovery costs.