Bensalem, Pennsylvania – A teenager from Bucks County was recently sentenced for the shooting and killing of a 12-year-old girl, as well as the disturbing act of asking a friend on Instagram to help cover up the crime. The teenager, who now goes by Ash Cooper but was formerly known as Joshua Cooper, pleaded guilty to third-degree murder, possession of an instrument of crime, and tampering with physical evidence in connection to the tragic incident that took place in November 2022.
The 18-year-old Cooper was handed a sentence of 15 to 40 years in state prison, alongside an additional seven years of probation. Furthermore, Cooper was directed to adhere to all the rules set forth by adult probation and parole, and undergo psychological and psychiatric evaluations to address the underlying issues that led to such a heinous act.
The shocking events unfolded on November 25, 2022, when authorities responded to a 911 call reporting a potential homicide at the Top of the Ridge Trailer Park in Bensalem. A witness revealed that they were on a video chat with Cooper on Instagram when Cooper confessed to accidentally killing someone, even displaying the gruesome scene where the victim lay covered in blood.
Subsequently, Cooper had the audacity to ask the friend for assistance in cleaning up the crime scene and disposing of the victim’s body, showcasing a callous indifference to the life that was lost. Upon arriving at the scene, law enforcement officers found the lifeless body of Morgan Connors in the bathroom of the trailer, bearing the markings of a gunshot wound, with evidence of an attempted cleanup effort.
Following the discovery of Connors’ body, Cooper was apprehended in the vicinity of the trailer park, leading to his subsequent arrest. During interrogation, the teenager disclosed obtaining the weapon while organizing his father’s safe, thereby shedding light on the series of events that culminated in such a tragic outcome.
In the courtroom, Chief Deputy District Attorney Kristin McElroy read a poignant impact statement from Connors’ grandfather, underscoring the profound pain and sorrow inflicted by the loss of his granddaughter. The emotional letter emphasized the unbearable heartbreak experienced by the family in the wake of their devastating loss, serving as a stark reminder of the irreversible impact of senseless violence.