Man accused in Randall Circle retaliatory shooting sentenced to state prison
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Damier Antoine Sams-Glover, one of four suspects accused of taking part in what prosecutors contend was a "retaliatory" shooting in the 1500 block of Randall Circle in Loyalsock Township in March 2024, has been sentenced to 18 months to seven years in state prison after previously pleading no contest to criminal attempted recklessly endangering another person and criminal attempted criminal mischief, Lycoming County Judge Ryan Gardner ruled Wednesday afternoon.
The incident took place just before 10 p.m. on March 3, 2024, one day after the fatal shooting of Ahmeen Palmer at the T.G.I. Fridays in Loyalsock Township, and is believed to have been retaliatory in nature.
Sams-Glover, 23, of Williamsport, was arrested in July 2025 and initially charged with criminal attempt – aggravated assault, criminal attempt – simple assault, criminal attempt – recklessly endangering another person, criminal attempt – discharge of a firearm into an occupied structure, corruption of minors and criminal attempt – criminal mischief – damage property.
He previously pleaded guilty to receiving stolen property and illegal possession of a firearm in a separate case that was covered in the sentencing.
Three at-the-time juveniles, Tykir Jihad Smith, 18, Jayson Roselle Applewhite, 18 and Kharu Michael Rorie, 17, were charged as adults with the same counts as Sams-Glover, sans corruption of minors.
In July, Smith pleaded guilty to misdemeanor counts of criminal attempt - recklessly endangering another person and criminal attempt - criminal mischief, with Applewhite entering a no contest plea to the same charges in a separate hearing.
Rorie is currently scheduled for criminal pretrials on Sept. 21.
Reflecting on prison and presentence reports, Gardner stated that although Sams-Glover has had several infractions against him, he has taken part in several classes, including English, art and life skills for which he earned certificates of completion.
Sams-Glover has also attended both alcoholics and narcotics anonymous meetings while imprisoned.
In arguing for concurrent sentences on the two cases, defense attorney Matthew Diemer argued that the case against Sams-Glover and his co-defendant was "weak at best."
"I think that was recognized by District Attorney Marino as well as the state police," Diemer said, calling the plea deal a "great compromise."
All of the crimes with which Sams-Glover was charged across four dockets happened within an eight month period of time during which his life and support system was falling apart, he stressed to Gardner.
Months prior to the TGI Friday shooting, Sams-Glover was shot at in broad daylight. That incident served as the catalyst for him to begin carrying a firearm, Diemer said.
"But due to the despicable actions of former (city) agent Benjamin Hitesman, who has since been demoted, the shooter is still walking around free today, despite everyone knowing his identity," the defense attorney said.
"There was no communication between the police and a man who was shot at. No interviews and no follow-ups," he said.
"Mr. Sams-Glover was cast aside by a broken system," Diemer said, while stressing that he was not excusing Sams-Glover’s action, but merely explaining them.
During a November incident from which the receiving and firearms charges stem, Sams-Glover was cooperative with police, Diemer added.
At that time, Sams-Glover was questioned, as he fit the description of an alleged shoplifter, and when prompted, lifted his shirt, revealing the firearm.
"You’re a good kid. Why do you keep making these dumb decisions," city officer Nathan Kendall asked Sams-Glover during their interaction, Diemer recounted.
"And that’s what my client is - a good kid who made bad decisions in a short period of time," he said.
"He has taken steps to address his underlying issues so that he can prove the first part of Officer Kendall’s statement right, while learning the tools to stop making dumb decisions," Diemer said.
Addressing the court, Sams-Glover took full accountability for his actions and acknowledged the consequences that come with that.
"My charges don’t define me as a person. This is not who I was raised to be," he told Gardner, adding that his legal troubles began when his grandmother died of cancer and his father was incarcerated.
"I’ve lost several loved ones to gun violence," he said.
Vowing to turn his life around, Sams-Glover stated "I am not the person in the jumpsuit."
Assistant District Attorney Jessica Feese, however, pointed to what led Sams-Glover to be behind bars as a symptom of a much larger problem.
"This is an excuse we’ve heard again and again from young men caught with firearms - that they only had it for protection, but that is just participating in incidents that have fueled the rising gun violence we’re seeing today," she said.
"There’s not really any way to categorize this other than ‘sad,’" Gardner told Sams-Glover.
"You were on a righteous track. Not many can say they’re both a scholar and an athlete. But when you went off track, you went off track fast and hard," he continued.
"But dumb decisions have a cumulative effect on personal lives and within the justice system," Gardner said, adding that the city is currently in the grips of one of the worst periods of gun violence since at least the point when he started practicing law.
Still, Gardner, citing the big jump from incarceration at the county level to incarceration at the state level, was hopeful that this could serve as both a lesson and a wake up call.
"You have tremendous potential to right the ship," he told Sams-Glover.
"When you are released from state prison, please don’t let people point the finger at me and tell me I was wrong," Gardner said.
In addition to his state prison sentence, Sams-Glover was ordered to perform 150 hours of community service and undergo four years of supervision following his release.
He will also receive credit for time served.