Defendant in Sunbury attempted murder case says he fears for his life after Thursday's shooting | News

SUNBURY – One of the defendants in the attempted murder trial that began Thursday said he saw a man point a gun at him and then shoot another man in a parking lot across from Northumberland County District Court on Thursday.

Just minutes after the trial's lunch break, Franky Riche, who was released from prison on bail in the case stemming from a June 2022 shooting, left the courthouse at about 11:50 a.m., according to his own statement. Riche, of Sunbury, said he planned to go to lunch before returning after the 1 p.m. break.

That's when the shooting occurred, he said. Sunbury police said one person was killed in the shooting.

“They tried to kill me today,” Riche told the Daily Item on Thursday night. “This is pure retaliation for something I had no part in from the start.”

Riche said he saw the man who fired the gun. Riche said the shooter – whose identity The Daily Item will not release until police release the suspect's name – pointed a gun at him before Riche began walking away from his girlfriend.

“I didn't want her to get involved,” he said. “I thought I was going to die.”

Riche was on trial for attempted murder along with Anthony Moultrie, also of Sunbury. He was accused of a June 2022 shooting that was related to a murder that occurred a month earlier. They appeared before a Northumberland County jury and Presiding Judge Paige Rosini on Thursday for the first day of a scheduled two-day trial. Rosini declared a mistrial after the shooting.

Richard Feudale of Mount Carmel represented Moultrie. Brian Ulmer of Lewisburg represented Riche.

Both Riche and Moultrie were charged in connection with a shooting that police say targeted a relative of Ajani Munsh-Ousha Uhuru, who was in a vehicle that allegedly sped away when the shots rang out near downtown Sunbury. On May 19, 2022, Uhuru – who was convicted of manslaughter earlier this summer – shot and killed 30-year-old Kareem Jakes at the Penn Jersey Mart on Fourth Street, Sunbury, before fleeing the scene.

Sunbury police allege Riche and Moultrie shot Uhuru's relative in revenge for the shooting of Jakes.

Riche said on Thursday a man pointed the gun at a relative of Moultrie and fired shots.

Riche said the victim, whose identity has not been determined by police, was in the courtroom Thursday to support him and Moultrie.

“I heard two shots,” he said. “It breaks my heart. He was just here to support us while we were fighting for our lives.”

In response, police officers from across the valley rushed to Sunbury. Rosini placed the courthouse on lockdown and later ruled the case could not be tried, said Northumberland County District Attorney Mike O'Donnell.

Riche said he remained fearful for his life and feared that retaliation would continue now that the trial was over for now.

“I am very afraid for my life,” he said. “I want to fight to clear my name and this is what happened. There should have been more security measures in this process.”

Sunbury Police Chief Travis Bremigen and O'Donnell declined to comment on the case or the shooting at this time. Bremigen said the case is currently under investigation and he will release more information later.