Man Sentenced For Shooting At Middletown Twp. Apartments: DA

MIDDLETOWN TOWNSHIP, PA — A 34-year-old man was sentenced to state prison after he shot at a Middletown Township family and hit several occupied apartments in July of 2020.

Eric J. Dawson was sentenced to 7 ½ to 15 years in state prison following an open guilty plea in November, admitting to felony counts of aggravated assault, prohibited possession of a firearm, and discharging a firearm into an occupied structure. He was sentenced by Common Pleas Judge Raymond F. McHugh on Thursday.

In an impact statement, Deputy District Attorney Jovin Jose read a statement from the family that Dawson shot in the court, which said that their young son was traumatized by the incident.

"This is the most horrific things our son has ever had to experience, being told to get down on the floor only to see bullets entering at floor level then needing to re-seek shelter in the bathtub of his lifelong residence while his home was under fire is more than enough trauma to last a lifetime."

Around 10:30 p.m. on July 20, 2020, the shooting occurred at the Foxwood Manor Apartments in the 2100 block of Veterans Highway. Dawson was confronted by a man at living in the apartments after he found Dawson trying to enter his vehicle. During the first altercation, Dawson brandished a handgun and the man told him to put it away and fistfight him; Dawson left the scene.

Later that night, Dawson, who was known as "Trenton" to the man, returned to fight. During the second altercation, Dawson ran to his car and grabbed a handgun.

He shot at the man and hit four occupied apartments. No one was injured.

Dawson fled the scene. He was arrested several months later in North Carolina. With previous convictions on his record, Dawson was not permitted to be in possession of a firearm.