According to court documents, the 32-year-old man who was accused of killing another man in an ambush outside a Chambersburg retail mall last month was previously on probation for brutally stabbing a neighbor in 2009.
In connection with fatally stabbing a neighbor in Maryland when he was sixteen, Joshua Bresnick, who was suspected of driving a minivan to the shopping center on December 18 and firing from the driver’s seat, was released early on February 17, 2015. Although he was given a 20-year sentence, the judge suspended 11 of those years.
According to police, Bresnick was waiting outside the mall last month before 20-year-old Rakeem Floyd showed up. The minivan parked at the Southgate Mall was captured on camera from approximately 5:48 p.m. until it drove off, only to return a few minutes before a passenger in Bresnick’s van got out, confronted Floyd from behind, and began fighting Floyd.
Then, court documents say, Bresnick pulled up and began shooting Floyd. According to the records, Bresnick then drove off when the passenger got back into the minivan. Court documents did not identify the passenger.
Around 6:40 p.m. on December 18, Chambersburg police responded to a report of gunfire and discovered Floyd, a Chambersburg resident, dead in front of the Family Dollar store at the Southgate Mall.
On December 30, Bresnick was charged with homicide by the police. According to online court documents, he was taken into custody on Friday and is currently being held at the Franklin County Jail without being granted bond. According to the police, he was legally prohibited from carrying a gun because of his previous conviction for second-degree murder.
Police connected Bresnick to the murder, according to court documents against him.
According to an affidavit of probable cause, Floyd was killed after a witness told police that he had fought with another man outside Family Dollar.
According to the complaint, a white male with glasses who was later identified as Bresnick pulled up in a minivan and pulled out a revolver as the two men were fighting. Bresnick shot Floyd multiple times before fleeing, according to court filings.
Police reported receiving multiple tips following the incident, which enabled them to track Bresnick to an address in McConnellsburg, Fulton County.
Police claimed they discovered a silver Toyota Sienna minivan with cosmetic damage and a spare driver’s side back tire when investigating the address. According to the affidavit, police discovered a piece of mail inside the van bearing Bresnick’s name.
The minivan’s registered owner’s husband admitted to authorities that he had let Bresnick to use the car since early December. According to the affidavit, Bresnick had been employed by the man but failed to report for duty following the December 18 shooting death.
According to the affidavit, Bresnick once said, “What van?” in response to the man asking him what had happened to the minivan.
According to court filings, another witness attested to having spoken with Bresnick and the other man when Bresnick was parked in the shopping lot prior to the shooting.
Neither the reason for the fight nor the motive for the murder were mentioned in the court filings.
Floyd was buried on Friday. According to his obituary, he was interested in launching a clothing business and loved rapping and creating music. His parents, four siblings, a son, and many other family members survive him.
Bresnick was charged with murder as well as two firearm charges, simple assault, and recklessly endangering another person. Judge Glenn Manns of the Magisterial District will hold a preliminary hearing on January 14.
According to The Baltimore Sun, Bresnick was 16 years old in January 2009 when he repeatedly attacked David Falkinburg, 45, who lived a few doors down from Bresnick in Baltimore. After being away from him for days, Falkinburg’s friends discovered him dead in a first-floor bedroom of his house while they were checking on him, according to press sources.
According to the Baltimore Sun, as authorities were investigating Falkinburg’s death, Bresnick arrived at his residence. Detectives discovered a stab wound on one of Bresnick’s arms, according to news sources. After being brought to police headquarters, he was accused of first-degree murder.
According to court documents available online, Bresnick entered a guilty plea to second-degree murder in August 2009.
After shooting and killing a 20-year-old man at the Southgate Mall in Chambersburg on December 18, 2024, Joshua Bresnick left in this vehicle, according to the police. Police in Chambersburg gave the photo.Police in Chambersburg
Crime and court news
Note: Every piece of content is rigorously reviewed by our team of experienced writers and editors to ensure its accuracy. Our writers use credible sources and adhere to strict fact-checking protocols to verify all claims and data before publication. If an error is identified, we promptly correct it and strive for transparency in all updates, feel free to reach out to us via email. We appreciate your trust and support!