Ex-Coatesville man pleads guilty in Lancaster murder

WEST CHESTER » A former Coatesville man who had been the victim of street violence has admitted that he became a perpetrator of the same.

Last Friday, 23-year-old Dajour James entered a guilty plea to charges of third-degree murder in the 2016 beating death of a man who lived in his neighborhood, and whose path he crossed when the man became involved in an argument with James’ sister.

According to authorities, James

punched and kicked Charles Henry Kronenberg IV outside Kronenberg’s Manor Street home after being called to the scene by his sister. Kronenberg allegedly had made a racially tinged comment to the woman,

who was not identified by name by police.

The attack was recorded on a cellphone camera, and the video was viewed by police during the investigation.

In 2011, James — who has past convictions for minor drug offenses — was shot and wounded by unknown assailants in Coatesville, where his family had lived

before moving to Lancaster.

At the time, Coatesville Detective Kevin Campbell said James suffered five gunshot wounds at about 11:55 p.m. Aug. 8, 2011, at South Sixth Avenue and East Harmony Street. James, who was wounded in his arms and legs, was transported to a regional hospital, police said. Authorities have not been able to make any arrests in the case.

In the Lancaster homicide, James, accompanied by his attorney, Evan Kelly

of West Chester, agreed to serve 14 to 28 years in prison for killing the 45-year-old Kronenberg on May 14, 2016.

According to the Lancaster County District Attorney’s Office, James punched and kicked Kronenberg outside Kronenberg’s home in the 500 block of Manor Street, about six blocks from where James lived, after the victim was involved in a verbal dispute with James’ relative. Kronenberg suffered a brain injury

and died two days later.

Lancaster County Judge Merrill Spahn Jr. accepted the plea terms and ordered sentence Friday morning, according to a press release.

“Violence has never been, nor will ever be, the correct answer,” Spahn said while ordering sentence.

At the proceeding, Brian Kronenberg, Charles’ brother, scolded James for attacking his brother by surprise.

“You could have chosen to own the situation and not run to the beach,” he said. James had been taken into custody in New Jersey, three days after the beating.

Diane Rapisardo, Kronenberg’s mother, said her son had returned home from planting her garden when he was beaten.

“No parent should ever have to experience this kind of trauma inflicted on their child,” she said, as James bowed his head.

James declined to comment when asked if he had anything to say by the judge.