Danny Cruz[1].jpg

Danny R. Cruz, 35, is accused of shooting a 43-year-old victim at least three times Saturday night in Harrisburg.

(Harrisburg police)

A Harrisburg man is facing several felony charges after police said he shot a man on Saturday who provided police with information 16 years ago in a robbery case, according to court documents.

Danny R. Cruz, 35, is accused of shooting the 43-year-old victim at least three times in the 1500 block of North Sixth Street. The shooting occurred around 1 a.m.

Cruz was among a group of six or seven men who hit the victim more than 10 times in the head and body with a handgun, according to court records. Cruz is also accused of striking the victim with the gun before shooting him.

The victim required emergency surgery at Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center but identified Cruz as the shooter along with another witness, court records show.

Ornaldo Ayuso-Rivera

Harrisburg police announced this week that they were also seeking Ornaldo Ayuso-Rivera in connection with the incident. Ayuso-Rivera, 38, who was still at large as of Thursday night, allegedly called the victim "a snitch" and was one of the men who struck him in the head and body with the gun.

The victim provided information to authorities as they prosecuted two violent robberies that occurred in 1997 on the West Shore.

Raul Antonio Ferrer and Ayuso-Rivera were accused of entering a Pizza Hut in East Pennsboro Township and a Kentucky Fried Chicken in Lemoyne with a sawed-off shotgun and terrorizing employees during holdups. Witnesses testified that Ferrer, who was sentenced to 13 to 42 years in state prison, wielded the gun and beat employees with it.

Ayuso-Rivera pleaded no contest to one count of conspiracy to commit robbery and was sentenced to 3½ to 8 years in prison.

Anyone with information on Ayuso-Rivera's whereabouts is asked to contact police Detective Jarrett Ferrari at 717-255-3025 or Officer Paula Trovy at 717-255-3158.

Bail was set at $1.5 million for Cruz. He is facing charges of conspiracy to commit criminal homicide, aggravated assault, conspiracy to commit aggravated assault, carrying a firearm without a license, retaliation against a witness and possession of a firearm when prohibited.