Bensalem, Pennsylvania – An 18-year-old teenager in Bucks County was sentenced for fatally shooting a 12-year-old girl and then seeking help from a friend on Instagram to cover up the murder. Formerly known as Joshua Cooper, the teenager, now called Ash Cooper, pleaded guilty to third-degree murder, possession of an instrument of crime, and tampering with physical evidence in connection to the November 2022 killing of Morgan Connors.
The tragic incident unfolded on November 25, 2022, when police responded to a 911 call reporting a possible homicide at the Top of the Ridge Trailer Park on Gibson Road in Bensalem, Pennsylvania. During an Instagram video chat, Cooper confessed to a friend about accidentally killing someone and requested assistance in cleaning up the crime scene and disposing of the victim’s body. The friends spotted the legs and feet of a person covered in blood on the video call, prompting the friend to alert authorities.
Upon arrival at the trailer park, law enforcement officers found Connors’ lifeless body on the bathroom floor with a gunshot wound. Additionally, signs of attempted cleanup at the scene indicated a hasty cover-up. Cooper was apprehended in the vicinity of the trailer park and subsequently taken into custody by the responding officers.
In the courtroom, Cooper was sentenced to 15 to 40 years in state prison, followed by seven years of probation. In addition, Cooper was ordered to comply with all rules stipulated by adult probation and parole, in addition to undergoing psychological and psychiatric evaluations. During the sentencing, an impact statement from Connors’ grandfather was read, highlighting the profound grief and anguish of losing a loved one to such a senseless act of violence.
The tragedy serves as a grim reminder of the consequences of impulsive actions and the devastating impact on families and communities. The case underscores the importance of accountability and justice in addressing acts of violence that claim innocent lives. The legal proceedings shed light on the collaborative efforts of law enforcement and the justice system to bring closure and deliver justice for the victim and their family.