16-year-old Columbia boy held for trial in fatal shooting of friend; victim's mother, 2 others also held | Local News | lancasteronline.com

DAN NEPHIN | Staff Writer | LNP

The defense attorney for a Columbia teenager charged with fatally shooting his friend during gunplay in July conceded his client acted recklessly and tried to argue that the shooting did not amount to third-degree murder.

“Reckless? Absolutely. Involuntary manslaughter? Yes. Murder? No,” Lancaster County Public Defender Rian Thompson argued Tuesday at a brief preliminary hearing for Jose Manuel Lopez III, 16. “Nobody is saying this was intentional.”

Thompson argued that Lopez did not act with malice, a legal element that must be present to support a third-degree murder charge — the most serious charge Lopez faces in the July 18 death of Wilfredo Garcia, 17. He was seeking dismissal of the charge.

The shooting happened in Garcia’s mother’s Plane Street apartment while Garcia, Lopez and other teenagers were drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana, according to police.

But Lancaster County Assistant District Attorney Callista Chartier said Lopez admitted to police that he knew the gun was loaded when he pointed it at Garcia’s head and pulled the trigger.

And disregarding the clear risk of death or serious injury by doing so met the element of malice, she said.

Columbia District Judge Miles Bixler ordered Lopez to trial on third-degree murder, involuntary manslaughter and related offenses

MORE:

https://lancasteronline.com/news/local/16-year-old-columbia-boy-held-for-trial-in-fatal-shooting-of-friend-victims-mother/article_81661fdd-8501-4e3e-900c-05dadb3e84a3.html 

Agenda — Columbia Borough Council Workshop — September 1, 2026

The meeting packet is HERE

Units respond to report of 'Person Struck' at intersection of North 3rd & Chestnut Monday afternoon

Emergency crews responded Monday afternoon to a report of a pedestrian struck by a vehicle at the intersection of North 3rd Street & Chestnut Street.

According to dispatch radio traffic, the call came in at 3:42 p.m. Monday, August 31, reporting "a person struck" at the intersection of N. 3rd and Chestnut Streets. Fire and EMS units were dispatched to the scene under a Class 1 response. Units on scene radioed that they were clear within several minutes, and a deputy fire official confirmed an assistant chief remained briefly before also clearing the scene.

A commenter on another site said they drove past the intersection and described the crash as being near a club on the corner and said that it appeared as though an e-bike may have been involved. The commenter added that everyone at the scene appeared to be up and moving around afterward.

This article is based on publicly available scanner audio and unverified social media reports. 

Owner says community will get chance to obtain bricks from Keystone Firehouse

According to LNP/LancasterOnline:

Building owner Cody Shoemaker said it may be possible for people who want bricks to obtain them, but for now he asked that people not attempt to get them from the site directly. An announcement about how that will work will be made later and is expected to be done through the borough government.

"We want to make sure the community gets a piece of this historical building. I'm not selling the bricks," Shoemaker said Monday.

Deeds Recorded — Columbia Borough — August 31, 2026

The Estate of Kemmick Dennis Leroy Jr. Est, Kemmick Dennis L. Jr. conveyed 659 Plane St. to Coastline Capital LLC for $371,000.

The estate of Kemmick Dennis Leroy Jr. Est., Kemmick Dennis L. Jr. conveyed 645 Plane St. to Coastline Capital LLC for $130,000.

Meley Kathleen A, Meley Patricia M. conveyed 233 N. Fourth St. to Kathleen A. Meley for $1.

The estate of Barbara L. Doutrich conveyed property on Lancaster Avenue to Bradley D. Shoff Jr. for $251,357.

Alex H. Mowery conveyed 235 Perry St. to Bergondo Anais Rojas for $205,000.

Tober Sabrina M, Tober Joshua H, Eisenberger Keith D. Sr. conveyed 290 S. Fifth St. to LL Properties LLC for $56,000.

About Town — August 30, 2026

Photos of Columbia, PA
Week ending 8/30/26
Click on photos to see larger, sharper images.

JOE LINTNER | COLUMBIA SPY

Lancaster County Planning Department members, PennDOT representatives, and others spoke at an Open House (8/27/26) at borough hall to present information and collect opinions and information from residents on dangerous areas along Route 462, from 5th Street to 13th Street. 

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CONDEMNED — Unsafe Structure: The Keystone Firehouse 

Postal vehicles are being parked on the street instead of in the parking lot next to the firehouse. 

The building is scheduled to be demolished on Monday.

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Some sort of accident involving multiple vehicles occurred at the bridge plaza Tuesday morning. 

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At its Aug. 25 meeting, Columbia Borough Council voted to send a letter supporting Salem United Church of Christ's plan to transfer its property, at no cost, to the Pennsylvania Furniture Mission, a nonprofit that provides furniture and household goods to people rebuilding their lives after homelessness, domestic violence, or incarceration. Under the plan, the church's first floor at 324 Walnut St. would become office space for nonprofits not yet established in Columbia, while the second floor would remain available for church use; the mission would keep its separate warehouse on Chestnut Street. The historic church, founded in 1803, closed in May after 220 years due to declining membership. State Sen. James Malone has also sent a letter backing the transfer. Council President Eric Kauffman said the transfer would help create a community-centered hub connecting residents to local resources and services.

A patriotic display on the 300 block of Walnut 

Clock at 5th & Chestnut 

Creepy covers

Workers on Walnut 

Frosty's early this year.

There's not much happening at the Linden Street Build. 

Taking out a load of limbs

Both Columbia flags are in place again. 

Something came undone. 

Peerless is hiring. 

Commemorative bricks

Signs

Duck carriage?

The bridge inspectors were back yet again. 

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The on-again off-again project at the former drive-in was on again . . .

Here's what's supposed to be going in there:

"A planned development that will include 18,000 square feet of retail space, a 3,000 square foot restaurant, a 3,500 square foot bank, 163 mid-rise apartments, and 9 low-rise townhomes," according to West Hempfield Township Planning Commission meeting minutes of May 16, 2019. The project was also discussed at the February 2, 2021 and October 5, 2021 West Hempfield Township Supervisors' meetings.

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300th anniversary proclamations, citations, etc. are on display at borough hall.

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Former Keystone fire station to be demolished, owner says (update) | Local News | lancasteronline.com

MARK SCOLFORO | Breaking News Reporter | LNP

A 19th century fire station damaged by the tornado that touched down in Columbia last week is too dangerous to save and demolition will begin next week, the owner said Thursday.

Cody Shoemaker said the decision came after the site was examined by engineering firms. The demolition of the Keystone Hook & Ladder Company building will start Monday and likely take about a month, he said.
MORE:

https://lancasteronline.com/news/local/former-keystone-fire-station-badly-damaged-by-columbia-tornado-will-be-demolished-owner-says-update/article_98fcb620-96b4-458e-a37b-51bbb62db375.html