Three defendants charged with killing 19-year-old Elliott Corbin III in Lancaster city on Jan. 6, 2024, will be prosecuted in Lancaster County Court following a preliminary hearing Tuesday before Magisterial District Judge John Bender in the Lancaster County Courthouse.

Tajhon Veal, 20 of the 300 block of N. Queen St., had charges of criminal homicide, carrying a firearm without a license, and criminal conspiracy bound over to the Court of Common Pleas.

Joy Cleveland, 19 of the 400 block of Beaver St., had charges of criminal homicide and criminal conspiracy bound over to the Court of Common Pleas.

Jalani Morales, 19 of the 300 block of N. Queen St., had charges of criminal homicide, criminal use of a communication facility, tampering with or fabricating evidence, and two counts of hindering apprehension or prosecution bound over to the Court of Common Pleas.

Assistant District Attorney Christopher Miller called one witness – Lancaster City Bureau of Police lead Detective Jared Snader – to the stand during the two-hour hearing.

Snader testified Cleveland and Corbin III were in a relationship and had an altercation before parting ways earlier in the day on Jan. 6.

Further testimony showed Cleveland luring Corbin III out on the balcony of his residence near the corner of Prince and Hazel Streets.

Corbin III showed concern through responding messages to Cleveland that she was trying “to get him smoked.”

At approximately 5:28 p.m., the Lancaster City Bureau of Police responded to the 400 block of S. Prince St. for the report of shots fired and found Corbin III suffering from a gunshot wound on the balcony of his residence and ultimately succumbing to his injuries after being transported to a local medical facility.

The Lancaster County Coroner’s Office determined the victim’s cause of death as gunshot wound to the body and manner as homicide.

Snader testified 9mm firearm shell casings were recovered from the scene.

Investigators were able to track the shooter’s movement through video footage from private and Lancaster Safety Coalition (LSC) cameras.

The shooter, identified as Veal, traveled from his residence on N. Queen St. to the area of the shooting and back to his residence. LSC video shows muzzle flashes from Veal firing a firearm upward at a balcony where Corbin III lived.

Phone data extraction showed Veal and Cleveland, who are first cousins, in communication prior to the murder.

Snader testified Morales, who is in a relationship with Veal, transported Veal after the killing.

“The plan didn’t work, but they certainly tried,” Miller said. “Without presenting all of our evidence, there’s clearly a conspiracy here between these defendants.”

Defense counsel argued on Veal’s behalf that investigators only had a belief Veal was the shooter and provided a vague description when identifying him. Cleveland’s defense counsel argued there wasn’t any evidence linking her to the case and her involvement was speculation. Morales’ defense counsel also argued speculation and asked for the criminal homicide charge to be dropped.

MDJ Bender held all charges for Lancaster County Court.

The Lancaster City Bureau of Police charged and arrested Veal and Cleveland on Jan. 26, 2024, and Morales on March 15, 2024.

All three defendants are in Lancaster County Prison without bail and will be formally arraigned on April 26. All defendants presumed innocent until proven guilty.

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