Man charged in Spring Garden Twp. double-fatal crash

A York City man is facing decades in prison if convicted of the criminal offenses he now faces for allegedly causing a double-fatal crash while fleeing from Spring Garden Township Police.

On Wednesday, state police filed charges against Shazmir Shaun Martino — two counts each of third-degree murder and homicide by vehicle and one count each of aggravated assault, aggravated assault by vehicle and fleeing or attempting to elude police, plus three counts of causing an accident involving death or personal injury while not properly licensed. All of the charges are felonies.

Martino, 20, of 127 W. Cottage Place in York City, has not yet been arraigned on his charges, according to court records.

He could not be reached for comment, and it's unclear if he has retained an attorney.

State police allege Martino was driving a 2003 Buick LeSabre about 4:30 p.m. Nov. 8, 2015, and was fleeing from police at a high rate of speed when he crashed into a garage, which collapsed onto the car.

Police release names of injured in double-fatal Spring Garden police chase

Killed were cousins Brandon Lamar Moultrey, 22, and Elijah Juan Moultrey, 19, both of York City.

A third passenger, then-17-year-old Brandon Smallwood, was thrown during the crash and suffered numerous serious injuries, according to state police, who said Martino also was hurt.

How it started: Charging documents state the four young men assaulted another young man on the grounds of York Suburban High School, beating him into unconsciousness.

They fled, but Spring Garden Township police officers called to the scene spotted them and gave chase, documents state.

Officers tried to pull over the Buick in the area of Hollywood Drive and Hill Street, but it took off, passing other northbound vehicles as it fled, according to documents.

The Buick was still accelerating as it crossed the railroad tracks on Hill Street, then slid through the intersection of Third Avenue and Harrison Street, police said.

Officers reported the Buick "appeared to be flying through the air sideways" as it crashed into the garage, documents state.

Using the Buick's event-data recorder, police determined the Buick had been going 83 mph in a 25 mph zone just five seconds before the crash. At one second before impact, it had slowed to 56 mph, police said.

That speed was too fast for a curve Martino was trying to negotiate, and the Buick side-slipped, struck a curb with its right tires and flipped, police said.

Victim was a fugitive: At the time of the crash, Brandon Moultrey was a wanted fugitive.

He was supposed to report to York County Prison on Oct. 6, 2015, to begin serving a 1½- to three-year state prison sentence for dealing heroin, court records state.

But he failed to show, and three days later a bench warrant was issued for his arrest, according to court records. He also was wanted on a state parole violation, officials said.

Brandon Moultrey also had an earlier drug-dealing conviction, according to court records, and Elijah Moultrey had one drug-dealing conviction.

Investigators determined Smallwood and Brandon Moultrey were sitting in the back seats of the Buick and that Elijah Moultrey was in the front passenger seat, according to charging documents.

State police investigated the crash because Spring Garden Township Police had been involved in the pursuit leading up to it.

— Reach Liz Evans Scolforo at levans@yorkdispatch.com or on Twitter at @LizScolforoYD.