William Player Holland, a 30-year-old male medical equipment salesman, died on October 9, 2017, after being shot in the chest in Cayce, South Carolina. The shooting occurred in the home of Dr. Adam Lazzarini, a former orthopedic surgeon at Lexington Medical Center. Holland and Lazzarini had reportedly spent the day together after a medical procedure they were scheduled to observe was canceled.
Their day concluded at Lazzarini's residence, where the surgeon was showing Holland his collection of handguns.
Initially, the Cayce Department of Public Safety considered the shooting to be accidental. However, the investigation took a turn following another tragic event at the Lazzarini home. Seven months later, on May 1, 2018, Lazzarini's wife, Vanessa Biery, was found unresponsive in the house and could not be revived. While investigating her death, which was later attributed to a heart condition from mixing medications, authorities uncovered new evidence related to Holland's shooting. This led them to believe Lazzarini had provided false and conflicting statements about the incident.
In May 2018, Dr. Adam Lazzarini was arrested and charged with involuntary manslaughter in connection with William Player Holland's death. A warrant indicated that Lazzarini was under the influence of alcohol when he pointed a handgun at Holland's chest and the weapon discharged. Following the charge, Lazzarini resigned from his position at Lexington Medical Center. Holland's family also filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Lazzarini.
The criminal trial of Adam Lazzarini took place in February and March of 2022. Prosecutors argued that Lazzarini was negligent while drinking and handling firearms, and that he attempted to cover up the circumstances of the shooting. The defense maintained that the shooting was a tragic accident, suggesting that Holland may have handed the loaded gun to Lazzarini without the doctor realizing it was loaded. The trial concluded with a dramatic turn of events when the jury initially returned a not-guilty verdict. During a poll of the jurors, one member changed her vote, prompting further deliberation. Ultimately, the jury returned a final and unanimous verdict of not guilty. Following the acquittal, Holland's family decided to end their civil lawsuit against Lazzarini.
