A custody pickup in Lancaster County became the kind of nightmare neighbors talk about in lowered voices, the kind that turns an ordinary road into a lasting reminder of how fast a family dispute can become a public safety crisis.
In East Cocalico Township, a mother arrived at a home on Reinholds Road to pick up her young daughter. She left with life-changing injuries after prosecutors said the child’s father opened fire while the 3-year-old girl stood nearby. Now, the criminal case has ended with Ezekiel Daniel Sanderful, 33, sentenced to 13½ to 40 years in state prison after pleading guilty to attempted murder, aggravated assault, and endangering the welfare of children.
The case matters far beyond one courtroom. For families across Lancaster County, especially parents navigating custody exchanges, it is a chilling reminder that private conflict can spill into streets, homes, emergency rooms, schools, and entire communities.
A Lancaster County Custody Exchange Turned Violent
Official notices show Sanderful was sentenced after admitting to shooting Stacy Rodriguez multiple times during an argument tied to custody of their child. The sentence came after a guilty plea to one count each of attempted murder, aggravated assault, and endangering the welfare of children, as detailed in East Cocalico sentencing records…