LANCASTER – A Lancaster city teen accused of firing a gun toward a group of people in a city park will see his case proceed to the Court of Common Pleas after he waived his preliminary hearing. 16-year-old Moises Mercado Jr. faces charges of aggravated assault, firearms not to be carried without a license, possession of a firearm by a minor, and receiving stolen property. Mercado fired a handgun towards a group of four people walking through Culitoin Park around 4:30 p.m. on Dec. 19. Police quickly identified Mercado as the gunman. Mercado later spoke to police and admitted to carrying the weapon and shooting toward the group. The weapon, a 9mm semiautomatic handgun, was determined to have been stolen in May 2024. Mercado is not allowed to carry a firearm due to being a minor.
