Com. v. Hickson, P. ( 2022 )


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  • J-S22033-22
    NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
    COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA               :   IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
    :        PENNSYLVANIA
    :
    v.                             :
    :
    :
    PATRICK HICKSON                            :
    :
    Appellant               :   No. 2539 EDA 2021
    Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence Entered November 8, 2021
    In the Court of Common Pleas of Chester County
    Criminal Division at No(s): CP-15-CR-0002711-2018
    BEFORE: BOWES, J., McCAFFERY, J., and SULLIVAN, J.
    MEMORANDUM BY SULLIVAN, J.:                         FILED DECEMBER 28, 2022
    Patrick Hickson (“Hickson”) appeals from the judgment of sentence
    imposed following his convictions for attempted first-degree murder, two
    counts of aggravated assault, persons not to possess firearms, carrying
    firearms without a license, possessing an instrument of crime, terroristic
    threats, and recklessly endangering another person.1 We affirm.
    On an afternoon in May 2018, Hickson and two men were in the parking
    lot of a Coatesville restaurant when Dayvon Brown (“Brown”), arrived to pick
    up food. See N.T., 8/10/21, at 8-13, 21. Brown talked to the two men who
    had come with Hickson and then to Hickson, whom he had known for years as
    “Peanut.”    See id. at 173-86; Commonwealth Exhibits C-70, C-71. Their
    ____________________________________________
    1See 18 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 901(a), 2502(a), 2702(a)(1), 2702(a)(4), 6105(a)(1),
    6106(a)(1), 907, 2706(a)(1), 2705.
    J-S22033-22
    discussion became heated and “Peanut” repeatedly threatened to kill Brown.
    Brown saw “Peanut” reach for a gun that was sticking up from his waistband,
    and Brown punched him in the face. Brown turned away and then heard four
    gunshots, all of which were subsequently determined to have been fired from
    the same gun.        See N.T., 8/10/21, at 173-86; N.T., 8/11/21, 200-01;
    Commonwealth Exhibits C-70, C-71.
    After hearing the first shot, Brown dropped to the ground, crawled to
    his SUV, and got in. He fled the scene before the police arrived. See N.T.,
    8/10/21, at 38, 115, 128, 132-33, 138, 163-164, 170; N.T., 8/11/21, at 6,
    38, 109-13. The police found Brown’s SUV ten minutes later. It had a bullet
    strike mark on its exterior, and a portion of a bullet lodged under an inside
    grille. See N.T., 8/11/21, at 84-89, 117-18.
    Three men fled the scene including the gunman, who was wearing a
    white sleeveless T-shirt according to an eyewitness. See N.T., 8/10/21, at
    40-43, 58-64, 73, 76-77; N.T., 8/11/21, at 6, 12, 40-43, 49. Police arrested
    Brown days later for an unrelated offense.        He gave two statements
    concerning the shooting. See id. at 173-86; Commonwealth’s Exhibits, C-70,
    C-71.2
    ____________________________________________
    2 At trial, Brown recanted his statements including his identification of
    “Peanut.” His inconsistent prior videorecorded statements were admitted as
    substantive evidence pursuant to Commonwealth v. Lively, 
    610 A.2d 7
    , 10
    (Pa. 1992) (holding that prior inconsistent statements recorded are admissible
    as substantive evidence). See N.T., 8/10/21, at 177.
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    A little more than one month later, Officer Jose Colon of the Coatesville
    Police Department was on patrol in a marked police car and saw Hickson,
    whom he knew as “Peanut.” See N.T., 8/12/21, at 36, 39-40, 44-47. When
    Officer Colon pulled up to him, Hickson fled. Another officer arrested him and
    found him to be in possession of drugs. See 
    id. at 14-19, 21, 25, 28
    . The
    parties stipulated at trial that on the day of the shooting, Hickson did not have
    a valid license to possess a firearm. See 
    id. at 69
    .
    A jury convicted Hickson of the above-listed offenses. The trial court
    imposed an aggregate term of ten to twenty years of imprisonment. Hickson
    filed a timely notice of appeal, and both he and the trial court complied with
    Pa.R.A.P. 1925.
    On appeal, Hickson raises the following issues for our review:
    1. Did the trial court commit error by commenting on [Hickson’s]
    use of photographs . . . because said comments tainted and
    swayed the jury’s fact-finding function?
    2. Did the trial court err[] by allowing the introduction of
    consciousness of guilt evidence and the related jury
    instruction?
    3. Was the evidence produced at trial insufficient to sustain
    [Hickson’s] convictions for attempted murder and aggravated
    assault?
    Hickson’s Brief at 6.
    In his first issue, Hickson asserts the trial court improperly commented
    on his use of Commonwealth’s Exhibit C-36D, a photograph of the view from
    the crime scene to a neighboring house, which the Commonwealth previously
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    introduced at trial to illustrate the conditions around the restaurant and the
    surrounding area.       See N.T., 8/10/21, at 16-18.3     Specifically, on direct
    examination, Tina Keen (“Keen”) testified that she heard the shooting from
    her home, and saw three men running from the area of the restaurant,
    including one with a gun. See N.T. 8/11/21, at 4-13. On cross-examination,
    Hickson attempted, in relevant part, to impeach Keen’s testimony about what
    she had seen by inquiring, using Exhibit C-36D, whether she had been able to
    see the scene clearly. See 
    id. at 18-22
    . When presented with Exhibit C-36D,
    Keen initially stated that it was a fair and accurate depiction of the view from
    the restaurant to her house, see 
    id. at 23-24
    , and the following exchange
    occurred:
    Q. Now, Ms. Keen , again, this is C-36D. This is your house here?
    A. Correct.
    Q. These are two trees in front of your house?
    A. That one is not a tree in front of our house. This portion – this
    bright green actually belongs to a tree that’s over here, so it’s
    sort of inaccurate.
    Q. So, it’s a branch hanging down?
    A. Whenever this picture was taken, it was.
    Q. And there’s this tree though in front of your house, correct?
    A. Correct.
    ____________________________________________
    3 Hickson objected to the admission of the photographs because the
    prosecution did not introduce evidence about when they were taken. See
    N.T., 8/10/21, 17-18.
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    Q. And in relation – and if you could use your laser pointer, I’d
    appreciate it. Your front door is where?
    A. From this vantage point you took this picture, it’s about here.
    Q. Okay.
    The Court: These are 2021 photographs, are they not, this one?
    Commonwealth team, isn’t this a 2021 photograph?
    [Prosecutor]: It is, your Honor, yes.
    The Court:    From July of this year?
    [Prosecutor]: Yes.
    A. These – this is a – perspective on this picture, I feel is a
    little off. These trees are tall enough that I can easily walk
    under those trees. So, they’re not low to the ground at all.
    Q. Well, again, we’re looking at it from this angle.
    The Court:  And [defense counsel], I very seldom – this
    photograph is 30[-]some months different from the date of
    this incident, so I’m not sure of the value.            The
    Commonwealth hasn’t objected, but my point is trees grow,
    branches grow. If you have a photograph from 2018, why don’t
    you use it?
    Q. Your Honor, I did ask the witness if this was a fair and accurate
    representation of her house.
    The Court:    You didn’t ask her about the size of the trees
    compared to three years ago. Let’s move [] on.
    N.T. 8/11/21,at 24-26 (emphases added).
    Hickson’s issue assigns error to the trial court’s statement that “trees
    grow, branches grow,” which, he says, implied that the photograph was not
    an accurate depiction of the witness’s vantagepoint, strengthened Keen’s
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    credibility, swayed the jury’s fact-finding function, and fundamentally
    impacted the outcome of the trial in favor of the Commonwealth.4
    As an initial matter, we note that Hickson made no objection to the trial
    court’s remarks, and therefore deprived the court of the opportunity to correct
    any possible error. His challenge to the trial court’s remark, first raised on
    appeal is, thus, waived.        See Pa.R.A.P. 302(a) (providing that issues not
    raised in trial court are waived and cannot be raised for the first time on
    appeal).
    Even if reviewable, the trial court’s remarks would not merit relief. A
    trial court has a right and sometimes a duty to question a witness to clarify
    existing facts, though not in a biased or protracted manner.               See
    Commonwealth v. King, 
    549 A.2d 195
    , 197 (Pa. Super. 1998).              A court
    must exercise that right with caution, and with due regard for the common
    ____________________________________________
    4 Hickson does not challenge the trial court’s ruling that the photograph was
    inadmissible to cross-examine Keen because she could not authenticate it.
    Authentication of an exhibit, such as a photograph, may be provided where
    the proponent presents evidence sufficient to support a finding that the item
    is what the proponent claims it is. See Pa.R.E. 901(a), (b)(1); see also
    Commonwealth v. Jackson, 
    283 A.3d 814
    , 818 (Pa. Super. 2022). A court
    does not abuse its discretion where it declines to admit into evidence a
    photograph that a witness testifies is not an accurate depiction of what it
    purports to be. See Commonwealth v. Rosarius, 
    771 A.2d 29
    , 32 (Pa.
    Super. 2001). Keen testified that the photograph was not an accurate
    depiction of her view of the crime scene on the date of the crime. That
    testimony constituted a proper basis for the trial court to preclude its use to
    cross-examine her. 
    Id.
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    law preference for clarification by adversarial cross-examination.        See 
    id.
    Trial courts should not ask questions that usurp or unduly encroach upon the
    fact-finding function of the jury by suggesting judicial disbelief of particular
    testimony or an opinion on one or more issues for one side against another.
    
    Id.
     (internal citations omitted). Within these constraints, the law permits a
    trial court to participate in trial proceedings to ensure that justice is done, in
    recognition of the fact that “a courtroom is a court of justice and not just a
    battleground for the tilting of attorneys or a testing of their wits and oratory,
    to so limit it would often jeopardize or defeat justice.” 
    Id.
     (internal quotations
    and citations omitted).    Not every unwise remark made by a court in the
    course of trial compels a mistrial.      Even where a defendant has timely
    requested a mistrial (here, Hickson did not) that relief is only available where
    the remark is prejudicial, i.e., it is of such a nature, or delivered in such a
    manner that it may reasonably be held to have deprived the accused of a fair
    and impartial trial. See Commonwealth v. Jones, 
    683 A.2d 1181
    , 1191
    (Pa. 1996).
    In its opinion, the trial court states that its remarks did not taint or sway
    the jury, but ensured that the jury was considering only relevant and proper
    evidence. See Trial Court Opinion, 1/31/22, at 4-7. We do not agree with
    Hickson’s assertion that the trial court’s comment strengthened Keen’s
    credibility, swayed the jury’s fact-finding function, and fundamentally
    impacted the outcome of the trial in favor of the Commonwealth.            It was
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    Keen’s assertion that the photograph was “sort of inaccurate” that led the trial
    court to inquire about when the photograph had been taken. Immediately
    after the trial court ascertained that the photograph had been taken thirty or
    so months after the incident, Keen stated that the photograph’s perspective
    was “a little off.” See N.T., 8/11/22, at 25. She continued, “These trees are
    tall enough that I can easily walk under those trees. So, they’re not low to
    the ground at all.” See 
    id.
    Keen’s testimony supported the trial court’s observation that trees and
    branches grow. Additionally, the court made its commonsense remark after
    Hickson persisted in cross-examining the witness with the photograph, despite
    her repeated statements indicating that she could not authenticate it because
    it was “inaccurate” or “a little off.” The trial court’s statement did not express
    judicial disbelief of particular testimony, but simply stated why Keen could not
    declare that the photograph accurately depicted her vantage at the time of
    incident. The trial court’s comment served the interests of clarification and
    placed clarity above the “tilting of attorneys”. See King, 549 A.2d at 197
    (citation omitted). Thus, we conclude that the trial court’s comment did not
    prejudice Hickson, particularly in light of other evidence demonstrating that
    Hickson shot at the victim.5 Accordingly, we find no merit to Hickson’s claim
    ____________________________________________
    5 Commonwealth v. Hammer, 
    494 A.2d 1054
     (Pa. 1985), which Hickson
    cites, is distinguishable. There, the trial court repeatedly interrupted defense
    counsel’s examination of his client: once for the court to advocate in favor of
    (Footnote Continued Next Page)
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    that the trial court improperly bolstered Keen’s testimony or biased the jury
    in the Commonwealth’s favor.
    Hickson’s second issue asserts that the trial court abused its discretion
    by admitting evidence of his flight from an arresting officer to show
    consciousness of guilt, and also challenges the trial court’s flight instruction.
    Hickson asserts that he fled not because of his involvement in the incident but
    because he had drugs in his possession, did not know he was wanted for the
    crime, and his Fifth Amendment rights would have been implicated had he
    testified that he fled from the officer because he was in possession of drugs.
    We first examine whether Hickson preserved his appellate challenge to
    the trial court’s evidentiary ruling. The record shows that one day before the
    prosecution introduced evidence of his flight from Officer Colon, Hickson
    asserted that the evidence would be cumulative and “prejudicial,” and that
    ____________________________________________
    a police statement Hammer was disputing; a second time for the court to
    suggest an inconsistency in Hammer’s testimony; and a third time for the
    court to question Hammer in a manner to reinforce a point the Commonwealth
    had already made, questioning his state of mind, and undermining a defense
    expert. See id. at 1061-64. Here, the trial court did not offer an opinion
    about critical issues in the case. Nor do we agree with Hickson’s assertion
    that the trial court “concluded for the jury” that the photograph was not an
    accurate depiction. Reply Brief at 2 (emphasis in original). It was the
    witness’s own testimony, not the trial court’s statement, that established that
    the photograph was not an accurate depiction of conditions at the time of the
    crime.
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    mere presence and flight after a crime did not demonstrate consciousness of
    guilt. See N.T., 8/11/21, at 125.6
    Hickson did not assert, at the time of his objection, before or after
    Officer Colon’s testimony, or in his Rule 1925(b) statement, the claim he now
    asserts on appeal, i.e., that the flight evidence was inadmissible because to
    refute it he would have had to acknowledge his exposure to criminal liability
    in another case. Hickson may not have review of this argument against the
    admissibility    of   the   flight   evidence      first   raised   on   appeal.   See
    Commonwealth v. McFalls, 
    251 A.3d 1286
    , 1293 (Pa. Super. 2021) (stating
    that an appellant may not raise a different theory of relief for the first time on
    appeal), appeal denied, 
    278 A.3d 301
     (Pa. 2022); Commonwealth v.
    Rivera, 
    238 A.3d 482
    , 499 (Pa. Super. 2020) (holding that this Court cannot
    review a legal theory offered in support of a claim where that theory was not
    presented to the trial court), appeal denied, 
    250 A.3d 1158
     (Pa. 2021).
    Even if reviewable, Hickson’s challenges to the evidence of his flight
    would not merit relief. The admissibility of evidence is in the trial court’s
    discretion and will not be reversed absent an abuse of that discretion. See
    Commonwealth v. DeJesus, 
    880 A.2d 608
    , 614 (Pa. 2005). An abuse of
    ____________________________________________
    6 Hickson’s assertion that (“[w]e’ve already got it on camera, people fleeing
    or running”), see N.T., 8/11/21, at 125, was apparently an objection to the
    admission of video evidence of his flight from the crime scene, rather than the
    evidence the prosecution sought to introduce of his flight from Officer Colon
    one month later.
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    discretion exists where the trial court overrides or misapplies the law, or where
    the judgment exercised is manifestly unreasonable, or the result of partiality,
    prejudice, bias, or ill-will. See Commonwealth v. Norton, 
    201 A.3d 112
    ,
    120 (Pa. 2019).       Evidence is admissible to establish a defendant’s
    consciousness of guilt where he committed a crime, knew he was wanted and
    fled or concealed himself.    See Commonwealth v. Lukowich, 
    875 A.2d 1169
    , 1173 (Pa. Super. 2005).       A jury may infer from the circumstances
    surrounding his flight that a defendant was aware of his fugitive status. See
    Commonwealth v. Hudson, 
    955 A.2d 1031
    , 1036 (Pa. Super. 2008).
    In this case, Officer Colon was in uniform in a marked police car when
    Hickson, whom he knew as “Peanut,” fled upon seeing him before hearing the
    reason the officer wanted him to stop. See N.T., 8/12/21, at 17-19, 28-29.
    Further, Hickson himself elicited, over a prosecution objection, Officer Colon’s
    testimony that he was “pretty sure” that a member of the police department
    had previously attempted to serve an arrest warrant on Hickson at Hickson’s
    house.   See id. at 30.    Additionally, Hickson, not the prosecutor, elicited
    testimony that he was found with drugs when he was arrested. See id. at
    28. Thus, there was evidence that Hickson committed the crimes charged in
    this case, knew that he was wanted, and fled to avoid apprehension.
    Accordingly, the trial court did not abuse its discretion by admitting evidence
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    of Hickson’s flight. See Hudson, 
    955 A.2d at 1036
    ; Lukowich, 
    875 A.2d at 1173
    .7
    Hickson next asserts that the trial court abused its discretion by giving
    a flight instruction because there was allegedly no evidence that he knew
    about the outstanding warrant for his arrest.
    To preserve a challenge to a jury instruction, an appellant must have
    objected to the charge at trial. See Commonwealth v. Davis, 
    273 A.3d 1228
    , 1246 (Pa. Super. 2022). A general objection to a jury charge will not
    preserve an issue for appeal, specific exception must be taken to the allegedly
    improper language.        See Pa.R.A.P. 302(b); see also Pa.R.Crim.P. 647(C)
    (providing that no portion of a jury instruction may be assigned as error unless
    specific objections are made thereto before the jury retires to begin its
    deliberations).
    The trial court found that Hickson waived his claim by failing to raise an
    objection to the instruction.         See Trial Court Opinion, 1/31/22, at 7-8
    (unnumbered). We agree with the trial court that Hickson did not preserve
    his appellate challenge to the trial court’s flight instruction. See Trial Court
    Opinion, 1/31/22, at 8. Hickson did not object to the instruction and his claim
    ____________________________________________
    7 Hickson cites no law for the proposition that properly admissible other crimes
    evidence is excludable because a defendant would have to implicate himself
    in another crime to refute that evidence. Moreover, having himself elicited
    Officer Colon’s testimony about the drugs found on his arrest, Hickson had the
    means to suggest an alternate reason for his flight without offering his own
    allegedly compromising testimony.
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    is therefore unreviewable on appeal. See Davis, 273 A.3d at 1246; see also
    Pa.R.A.P. 302(b); Pa.R.Crim.P. 647(C).8
    Even    if   Hickson’s   unpreserved        jury   instruction   challenge   were
    reviewable, it would fail. A trial court has broad discretion in formulating jury
    instructions where it presents the law to the jury in a clear, adequate, and
    accurate manner.         See Lukowich, 
    875 A.2d at 1174
    . We review jury
    instructions for an abuse of discretion or error of law. See Commonwealth
    v. Rush, 
    162 A.3d 530
    , 540 (Pa. Super. 2017). Trial courts are invested with
    broad discretion in crafting jury instructions, and such instructions will be
    upheld where they clearly and accurately present the law to the jury. See
    Commonwealth v. Simpson, 
    66 A.3d 253
    , 274 (Pa. 2013). A reviewing
    court considers the entire charge as a whole, rather than isolated fragments,
    and considers it against the background of all evidence presented to determine
    whether error is committed, i.e., if the instruction as a whole is inadequate,
    unclear, or has a tendency to mislead or confuse the jury on a material issue.
    See Commonwealth v. Grimes, 
    982 A.2d 559
    , 564 (Pa. Super. 2009). A
    flight instruction is proper where a person has reason to know that he was
    wanted for a crime and flees or conceals himself from law enforcement
    ____________________________________________
    8 Hickson claims he preserved his jury instruction issue by objecting to the
    admission of evidence of his flight.           The law is otherwise.         See
    Commonwealth v. Baker, 
    963 A.2d 495
    , 505-06 (Pa. Super. 2008) (holding
    that an appellant does not preserve an objection to a jury instruction where
    he states a request for a jury instruction but does not object to the instruction
    the trial court gives).
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    authorities.   See Commonwealth v. Tha, 
    64 A.3d 704
    , 714 (Pa. Super.
    2013).
    The trial court gave a flight instruction that was permissive, allowing the
    jury to determine whether the flight evidenced consciousness of guilt and
    informing them that flight alone was not sufficient to prove guilt:
    [A] defendant’s subsequent flight from the scene of a crime
    . . . is not sufficient to establish that a defendant committed a
    crime. The defendant’s presence at the scene of the crime or his
    subsequent flight or knowledge, however, may be considered by
    the jury along with other evidence in the case. There was
    evidence, including[] the testimony of Officer Jose Colon that
    tended to show that the defendant fled from the police . . .. the
    credibility, weight and effect of this evidence is for you to
    decide.
    Generally speaking, when a crime has been committed and a
    person thinks he is or may be accuse of committing it and he flees
    or conceals himself, such flight or concealment is a circumstance
    tending to prove the person is conscious of guilt. Such flight or
    concealment does not necessarily show consciousness of guilt in
    every case. A person may feel or hide for some other motive
    and may do so even though innocent. Whether the flight or
    concealment in this case should be looked at as tending to prove
    guilt depends upon the facts and circumstances of this case and
    especially upon motives that may have prompted the flight or
    concealment.
    N.T., 8/12/21, 160-62 (emphases added).
    Evidence that the police had attempted to serve an arrest warrant at
    Hickson’s house and that Hickson fled from Officer Colon tended to show he
    had reason to know that he was wanted for this crime and fled or concealed
    himself from authorities. The trial court’s closing instruction, which allowed
    the jury to determine whether Hickson’s actions manifested consciousness of
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    guilt, closely followed the Standard Criminal Jury Instruction § 3.14, and was
    properly issued under the facts of this case. See Tha, 
    64 A.3d at 714
    .9 Thus,
    even had Hickson preserved his challenge to the trial court’s instruction, he
    would not be due relief.
    In his final issue, Hickson contends that the evidence was insufficient to
    support his convictions for attempted murder and aggravated assault because
    the evidence did not show his specific intent to kill or seriously injure the
    victim. He directs our attention to the absence of testimony that he pointed
    his gun at the victim while shooting.
    When reviewing a sufficiency of the evidence claim, an appellate court
    determines whether the evidence, viewed in the light most favorable to the
    Commonwealth, and with all reasonable inferences therefrom, is sufficient to
    establish every element of the offense beyond a reasonable doubt.           See
    Commonwealth v. Haney, 
    131 A.3d 24
    , 33 (Pa. 2015). The Commonwealth
    may sustain its burden of proof by means of wholly circumstantial evidence.
    See Commonwealth v. Williams, 
    255 A.3d 565
    , 578 (Pa. Super. 2021).
    A person commits the crime of attempt when with the intent to commit
    a specific crime he does any act which constitutes a substantial step toward
    ____________________________________________
    9 Hickson asserts on appeal that he fled only because he had drugs in his
    possession. The trial court’s instruction did not preclude the jury from
    crediting this explanation. That the jury did not accept Hickson’s version of
    events does not prove that it was an error of law to give a flight instruction
    that the facts of record supported.
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    its commission. See 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 901(a). Evidence is sufficient to sustain
    a conviction of attempted murder if the accused takes a substantial step
    toward the commission of a killing, with the specific intent to commit such an
    act. See Commonwealth v. Dale, 
    836 A.2d 150
    , 153 (Pa. Super. 2013). A
    person commits aggravated assault where, inter alia, he attempts to cause
    serious bodily injury to another, see 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 2702(a)(1), or attempts
    to cause bodily injury to another with a deadly weapon. See 18 Pa.C.S.A.
    § 2702(a)(4).   A person is presumed to intend the natural and probable
    consequences of his actions. See Commonwealth v. Lewis, 
    911 A.2d 558
    ,
    564 (Pa. Super. 2006). Intent may be provided by direct or circumstantial
    evidence and inferred from acts, conduct, or attendant circumstances). Cf.
    Commonwealth v. Matthew, 
    909 A.2d 1254
    , 1259 (Pa. 2006) (holding that
    an accused attempts to cause serious bodily injury to another with a deadly
    weapon by repeatedly threatening to kill him even without firing a single
    shot); see also Commonwealth v. Sanders, 
    627 A.2d 183
    , 187 (Pa. Super.
    1993) (holding that accused attempted to cause bodily injury to his victim
    where he held a gun to his head and threatened to kill him).
    The trial court found that Brown’s prior videotaped testimony, which was
    admitted as substantive evidence at trial, the descriptions by other
    eyewitnesses, and surveillance video from shortly before the shooting, showed
    that Hickson repeatedly threatened to kill Brown, drew a gun when Brown
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    turned around, and fired his gun repeatedly in Brown’s vicinity. See Trial
    Court Opinion, 1/31/22, at 8-11.
    We affirm the trial court’s conclusion that the evidence was sufficient to
    sustain Hickson’s attempted murder and aggravated assault convictions.
    Hickson took a substantial step toward killing the victim when he threatened
    repeatedly to kill him, drew a gun from his waistband, and fired several shots
    that struck the victim’s car, one of which left a strike mark on the outside of
    the car and one of which penetrated the interior. See Matthew, 909 A.2d at
    1259; Dale, 836 A.2d at 153. The same evidence of Hickson’s threats to kill
    Brown, Brown’s statement that he crawled to his car after the first shot and
    got inside, and that Hickson’s bullets struck the outside of Brown’s car and
    penetrated its interior was sufficient to prove Hickson’s intent to inflict serious
    bodily injury on Brown, and his intent to inflict bodily injury with a deadly
    weapon. See Matthew, 909 at 1259; see also Lewis, 
    911 A.2d at 564
    ;
    Sanders, 
    627 A.2d at 187
    . No relief is due.
    Judgment of sentence affirmed.
    Judgment Entered.
    Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
    Prothonotary
    Date: 12/28/2022
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