Police: One brother arrested, another sought in May 3 homicide in York City

Two brothers face homicide charges in connection with the May 3 shooting death of a 41-year-old York City resident, according to a York City Police Department news release.

Ryan Craig Strada, 20, was arrested Thursday with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service, police said. There's an arrest warrant out for Nicholas Strada, 17.

The brothers face charges of homicide, robbery and burglary, according to the release. Ryan Strada faces two counts of criminal homicide as well as robbery with serious bodily injury, conspiracy to commit that robbery, burglary with bodily injury and conspiracy to commit that burglary. All are first-degree felonies. 

Ryan Strada hadn't been arraigned as of Thursday afternoon, according to court records, and no court records were listed for Nicholas Strada.

The charges stem from a botched robbery for marijuana that ended in the shooting death of Whispering Wind Bear Spirit, 41, who was previously named Jennifer Jean Makos, according to authorities.

Spirit was shot in the stomach about 11:30 p.m. May 3 inside the home of her friend, Oscar Fink, in the 300 block of Smyser Street, according to police. She was rushed to WellSpan York Hospital, where she died during surgery, police said.

More:Coroner identifies person shot and killed Tuesday in York City

"This is yet another homicide linked to the street level marijuana trade," the police news release states. "Since 2017, five of the homicides that have occurred in the City of York have been related to marijuana."

Four other people have already been charged with felonies of robbery, burglary and conspiracy to commit both offenses in connection with the homicide: Oscar David Cook, 19, of Spring Garden Township; Michael Page Stewart, 22, of Harrisburg; Jaden Tyler Landis, 18, of the Manchester area; and Phillip Cornelius Sullivan, 18, of York Haven.

More:Four charged with robbery in relation to York City homicide; 2 still at large

Shot over marijuana: The Smyser Street home was targeted because the accused wanted to rob Fink of a pound of marijuana that they believed he'd stolen from the Strada brothers, according to charging documents.

The men went to Fink's house that night, and the Strada brothers brought a gun, according to charging documents. They pushed their way inside the home, where one of the brothers assaulted Fink while the other brother held the other occupants of the home at bay with the gun, charging documents state.

Tried to defend friend: Spirit tried to defend Fink and to get the attackers out of the home, according to police.

That's when one of the Strada brothers allegedly shot her, according to charging documents.

Spirit was hearing impaired and wore hearing aids, according to York County Coroner Pam Gay. It's unclear if she could hear what the robbers were saying.

All suspects fled the residence after Spirit was shot, according to police. 

Cook is in York County Prison on $750,000 bail. Stewart and Landis remain free after posting 10% of their respective bail amounts, $5,000 and $15,000. Sullivan is free on $25,000 unsecured bail, meaning he didn't have to post any money but could forfeit that amount if he misses court proceedings.

—  Senior crime reporter Liz Evans Scolforo contributed to this article. Reach Harper Ho at hho@yorkdispatch.com or via Twitter at @howdyhoharper.