Suspect in Lancaster Shooting Drops Preliminary Hearing, Faces Trial

Legal Proceedings Begin for Lancaster Man in Shooting Case

A Lancaster man has been charged in connection with an early-morning shooting that occurred in the city earlier this month. Daniel Lee Orlando, who resides on the 700 block of Manor Street, will have his case proceed to trial after waiving his preliminary hearing last week. The decision was announced by the Lancaster County District Attorney's Office.

Orlando is one of several individuals identified by police in relation to the incident, which took place at a home on the first block of Prospect Street on the morning of July 13. According to prosecutors, he was part of a group that was involved in the events leading up to the shooting.

Another individual, 34-year-old Venecia Lopez, is the only other person to be charged in the case so far. It was Lopez who allegedly fired three shots from a handgun into the occupied home, as determined by police. Orlando is accused of holding the door open for Lopez during the shooting and later helping to hide the weapon from law enforcement.

Orlando faces multiple charges, including four counts of aggravated assault, four counts of recklessly endangering another person, and one count each of burglary, hindering apprehension, firearms to be carried without a license, corruption of minors, and tampering with evidence. He waived a preliminary hearing before Judge Adam Witkonis on July 23, according to court records.

According to police, Lopez, Orlando, and a group of others were seen on surveillance footage approaching the Prospect Street home shortly after 2:30 a.m. on July 13. Lopez reportedly asked one of the others to retrieve a handgun from her car. Once she received the weapon, she fired three shots into the residence while Orlando held the front door open, police said.

At the time of the shooting, four other individuals, including two teenage girls, were present outside the home with Lopez and Orlando. All members of the group have been identified by police, though only Lopez and Orlando were charged in connection with the shooting.

After the incident, Lopez handed the gun to Orlando, who fled the scene on foot to the first block of Caroline Street. There, he gave the weapon to a 12-year-old girl, according to police. Surveillance cameras operated by the Lancaster Safety Coalition tracked Orlando’s movements throughout the city as he carried the firearm.

In a later interview with police, Orlando admitted to taking the gun to prevent it from being found by authorities. It was also revealed that Orlando does not possess a permit to carry a firearm.

Investigators were unable to locate the weapon when they searched the Caroline Street home where Orlando was seen giving it to the girl, according to police reports.

Although no one was injured in the shooting, investigators discovered spent shell casings and discharged bullets inside and outside the home. The house sustained damage to a storm door and the floor.

Both Lopez and Orlando were arrested and admitted to their involvement in the shooting. Lopez told police that she fired the gun into the home and then handed the weapon to Orlando.

Orlando remains in Lancaster County Prison on $500,000 cash bail. Lopez, who lives on the first block of Caroline Street, is also in Lancaster County Prison but without bail. She faces similar charges, including four counts of aggravated assault, four counts of recklessly endangering another person, and one count each of burglary, firearms not to be carried without a license, and discharge of a firearm into an occupied structure.

Lopez’s preliminary hearing, which was scheduled for the same date as Orlando’s, has been continued, according to court records.