Teen Gets 15 To 30 Months In Haverford Shooting

HAVERTOWN, PA — A Delaware County teenager has been sentenced prison for shooting another teenager back in February last year.

James McCauley, 18, of Drexel Hill, was hit with a 15- to 30-month sentence for shooting Haverford High School star athlete Marquis Mays during a marijuana deal gone wrong on Feb. 12, 2019.

McCauley was initially charged with attempted homicide, attempted murder, aggravated assault, recklessly endangering another person, firearms without a license, possession of an instrument of crime, and receiving stolen property charges held for court during his preliminary hearing Thursday.

However, some of those charged were dropped after he pleaded guilty to reckless endangerment and other charges stemming from having a stolen handgun.

Authorities determined Mays and another male arranged to buy one ounce of marijuana for $150 cash from three males, including McCauley, according to the Delaware County District Attorney's Office.

Those three arrived at an arranged location to meet Mays and the other person.

Mays got in the rear seat of a vehicle with the three other men purchase the one ounce of marijuana, the DA's office said.

During the exchange, one of the males in the back of the vehicle became aggressive with Mays and a physical fight ensued between the individuals, the DA's office said.

McCauley then pulled out a black semi-automatic pistol and allegedly shot the victim in the face, according to the DA's office. Both the victim and suspect are students at Haverford High School, police said.

After the shooting, the suspects ran and police used surveillance footage in the area to determine the suspects' identity, which led them to identify and arrest McCauley.

He was taken into custody after police surveilled his home while waiting for the District Attorney's Office to issue a search warrant for the home, police said.