Parkesburg Man Gets A Maximum Sentence Of Over Five Decades For Murder

CHESTER COUNTY, PA — A man who barricaded himself in a Coatesville residence with a semi-automatic handgun in 2020 was sentenced in Chester County Center Friday to 28 years and three months to 56½ years in state prison.

Stephen D. Young, 38, of Parkesburg pleaded guilty to third-degree murder in the fatal shooting of Donald Curtis, 40, in Coatesville on Aug.28, 2020. A first-degree murder charge was withdrawn.

Coatesville police said Young pulled a semi-automatic handgun at a police officer and barricaded himself inside 729 E. Lincoln Highway.

Coatesville City police said Donald Curtis was lying on the sidewalk with gunshot wounds to his upper torso at 12:30 a.m. Curtis was transported to Brandywine Hospital and pronounced dead at 1:34 a.m.

Coatesville Police Officer Jared Davis said Young pointed a gun at him before barricading himself in a house.
While searching the area they found several 9 mm shell casings on the front porch of 22 N. 7th Ave., where it was later learned the victim and his girlfriend lived.

The police officer took cover to avoid being shot, and Young backed into the residence and shut the door, police reported.

Police said about 30 law enforcement units set up a perimeter around the 7th Avenue residence at 12:51 p.m.

Young then surrendered to the police. Officers then recovered a black semi-automatic 9 mm handgun from the residence.

Chester County District Attorney Deb Ryan said the murder was a senseless tragedy.