An Ephrata Township father was sentenced to 3 ½ to 7 years in prison for his role in a July 4^th shooting by his son that occurred in 2020 and started over a Snapchat argument.

Mark Ivie Sr., 44 of Blackberry Lane, plead nolo contendre to a felony charge of criminal conspiracy to commit aggravated assault and a misdemeanor offense of simple assault in the negotiated guilty plea.

Ivie Sr.’s son, Mark Ivie Jr., was sentenced to 24 to 50 years in prison on December 22 after being convicted on October 27.

A former coworker of Ivie Jr. posted a music video on Snapchat, which Ivie Jr. criticized, leading him to respond to the post and start an argument on July 4, 2020. The former coworker, who had been having a Fourth of July cookout with five other friends, continued arguing with Ivie Jr. until the latter sent his Blackberry Lane address for the two to have a fistfight.

The six unarmed individuals showed up at the residence at Blackberry Lane as Ivie Jr. and Ivie Sr. waited out front of the house and went down to meet them on the sidewalk. Ivie Sr. possessed an AR-15 rifle.

A fight ensued between Ivie Jr. and a member of the group which went to the ground. Everyone got back to their feet and Ivie Sr. handed the gun to Ivie Jr. before the father threw a punch toward one of the men.

Immediately after, Ivie Jr. took off the safety and fired 14 rounds at the group of men, striking four of them while two bullets went into nearby houses.  A neighboring home caught the entire incident on a surveillance system.

Lancaster County Judge Dennis Reinaker ordered sentence on Wednesday.

Ivie Sr. declined to speak when given the opportunity by the judge.

Ivie Sr. relinquished the AR-15 firearm used in the offense and is now legally prohibited from possessing firearms. He must pay $81,000 in restitution and report to Lancaster County Prison on May 4.

First Deputy District Attorney Travis Anderson prosecuted the case.

Ephrata Police Detective Graeme Quinn filed charges.

MEDIA CONTACT: Sean McBryan, semcbryan@co.lancaster.pa.us; Twitter: @SeanMcBryanLanc.