Wesley Lyons Jr., 35, of Edgewood, was sentenced to 63 years in prison Thursday in Harford County Circuit Court for his role in a June shooting at Harford Mall during his child’s birthday party.

A jury found him guilty in December of attempted second-degree murder, reckless endangerment and multiple gun charges.

During sentencing, Judge Diane Adkins-Tobin referred to Lyons as polite, respectful and attentive and said that there are “two sides” to Lyons — one that gives free haircuts to children before the first day of school and coaches football, and one who committed the shooting at the Harford Mall.

“Someone who loves children doesn’t bring a loaded gun to a child’s birthday party,” Adkins-Tobin said. “Harford County lost a little bit of its innocence that day.”

Prosecutors had asked for a 93-year sentence, citing other pending gun and drug charges against Lyons, as well as an armed robbery conviction from 2009. Adkins-Tobin sentenced him to 93 years with all but 65 suspended.

Court documents indicate that the shooting occurred after a fight broke out at the Harford Bounce Party Place in the mall. During the incident Lyons pulled a handgun with an extended magazine from his waistband and fired it five times, striking a man in his upper left thigh, in his groin and in a finger. Police said the man has since made a full recovery.

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