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A York County teenager, Nolan Grove, was sentenced to 16 to 32 years in prison for the 2023 murder of 12-year-old Kain Heiland. The sentencing took place on Thursday (August 28) following Grove's conviction for third-degree murder, illegal gun possession, and reckless endangerment. He was 13 years old when he shot Heiland in a dark breezeway in Red Lion.
York County District Attorney Tim Barker highlighted the impact of the case on the community, stating that it "deeply affected the entire York County community." The shooting occurred on April 1, 2023, when Grove took his father's handgun from a safe and shot Heiland in the back. Despite Grove's claim that the shooting was accidental, the jury found him guilty of acting with "malicious indifference."
According to York Dispatch, the prosecution argued that Grove's actions demonstrated a pattern of recklessness. Evidence presented during the trial showed Grove pointing the gun at others and using its laser sight to intimidate them. After the shooting, Grove fled the scene, attempted to conceal evidence, and lied to police.
Judge Maria Musti Cook, who presided over the case, described it as "tragic" and expressed her hope that such incidents would not occur. She sentenced Grove to the mandatory 15 to 30 years for third-degree murder, with an additional one to two years for involuntary manslaughter.
Grove's mother, Danielle Nace, pleaded for leniency, describing her son as a child who made a grave mistake. However, Kain's family expressed their grief and called for justice. Kain's grandmother, Kathy Rexroth, stated that their lives were shattered by the tragedy, while his mother, Devin Rexroth, implored the judge to provide justice for her son.