A Lancaster city man convicted of third-degree murder was sentenced to 40 to 80 years in prison Wednesday morning in Lancaster County Court.

Ryan Rivera, 24 of the 500 block of Third St., was convicted by jury on November 19, 2021, on charges of third-degree murder, conspiracy, and carrying a firearm without a license for the drive-by killing of Tyreek Gardner in the 500 block of E. Chestnut St. in May 2019.

Lancaster County Judge Dennis Reinaker ordered sentence and heard statements from the victim’s sister and mother. Defense counsel read a statement from the defendant’s mother.

When asked by the judge if he wished to speak, Rivera responded “no sir.”

“One of my responsibilities is to keep the community protected from the threat of danger,” Reinaker said. “The streets of Lancaster will be safer without you on them. Hopefully someday he’ll come to appreciate the gravity of what he’s done.”

First Deputy District Attorney Travis Anderson asked for the maximum sentence of 43 ½ to 87 years in prison, stating this was Rivera’s third separate offense involving a firearm and that Rivera was still on parole when he committed this homicide.

Rivera faces the potential of serving additional time on a parole violation, which by law would have to run consecutively to this sentence.

“State prison is made for people like Ryan Rivera,” Anderson said. “One would be hard-pressed to find a more malicious third-degree murder than in this case.”

Anderson presented evidence during trial that Rivera and another man confronted Gardner on the 300 block of E. Fulton St. after Rivera and Gardner had crossed paths earlier in the night.

The other man with Rivera punched Gardner, who ran from them on Tobacco Ave. toward N. Shippen St. Rivera and the other man each fired at the victim but did not strike him. Shell casings were recovered on Tobacco Ave.

Rivera and the other man returned to the corner of E. Fulton St. and N. Plum St. and video footage showed Rivera pointing at Gardner as he ran by onto Chestnut St.

Shortly after, Rivera and the other man got into a Volkswagen Passat, which was captured on video surveillance driving down Chestnut St. to catch up with the victim. Additional video captured the audio of the shots being fired.

Assistant District Attorney Elaine Preli assisted in the prosecution.

Lancaster City Bureau of Police Detective Sergeant Thomas Ginder filed charges and attended the trial and sentencing.

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