23-year-old gets lengthy prison sentence for killing Pottstown man over alleged gang retaliation

NORRISTOWN, Pa. (KYW Newsradio) — A 23-year-old Pottstown man, who had a violent past and ties to a gang, will spend at least two decades in prison for a murder that prosecutors said was retaliation for cooperation with law enforcement.

Tyshaun Harvey was sentenced on Friday to 23 to 46 years in prison for shooting and killing 22-year-old Nahmer Baird in May 2022.

Prosecutor Samantha Caufman said Harvey was out on bail — following an arrest for shooting into a crowd of people — when he shot Baird on West Street in Pottstown.

Caufman said Harvey was targeting Baird’s brother because the brother testified at the murder trial of three fellow members of the BGB gang.

“[Harvey] was involved in gangs, and he still holds that belief deep down,” said Caufman. “It’s part of who he is. I think he’s a threat to society, so I’m glad he’s going to be locked away for as long as he’s going to be locked away.”

Harvey said he shot Baird because of a separate, personal dispute, not because of Baird’s testimony against gang members.

“Just because he was in a gang doesn’t mean that the motive was gang-related,” said Jack McMahon, Harvey’s lawyer, “but the court found otherwise. And I respect this court.”

Baird’s parents said their son was well-liked and always smiling. They said Harvey was good friends with both of their sons before they got wrapped up in the gang — Baird’s mother said she still remembers Harvey’s favorite dessert and meal from all the times he ate dinner at their home.

“It's doubly hard, because they consider the defendant a part of that family, and he betrayed them in the worst way you can betray someone,” Caufman added.