In the rural woods of Rockland Township, Pennsylvania, a weekend gathering among acquaintances took a tragic turn, ending the life of 29-year-old Peter Bernardo Spencer, a Black man and Jamaican immigrant. On December 11, 2021, Spencer accepted an invitation from a former white coworker for a camping and hunting trip at a remote cabin, a pastime he was known to enjoy.
He was the only Black person present among the small group, which included his former colleague and three other individuals he did not know.
In the early morning hours of December 12, the Pennsylvania State Police were dispatched to the cabin following a report of a shooting. They discovered Spencer's body on the front lawn, bearing multiple gunshot wounds. Investigators found several firearms, ballistic evidence, and controlled substances at the scene. A 25-year-old man, Spencer's former coworker, was identified as the shooter. He and the three other guests were taken into custody for questioning but were subsequently released after consultation with the Venango County District Attorney's office, and no charges were immediately filed.
The shooter claimed he acted in self-defense. According to the district attorney's investigation, which included witness testimony, Spencer had been drinking alcohol, smoking marijuana, and consuming psychedelic mushrooms. Witnesses stated that Spencer became erratic and began firing an AK-47 assault rifle into the air, proclaiming himself to be a god. The situation reportedly escalated when Spencer allegedly pointed the rifle at his former coworker. This man, believing his life and the lives of the other guests were in danger, drew his own handgun and shot Spencer nine times.
In March 2022, the Venango County District Attorney announced that no charges would be filed against the shooter. The decision was based on Pennsylvania's 'Stand Your Ground' law, with the prosecutor stating there was sufficient evidence to support a self-defense claim. This conclusion was met with outrage from Spencer's family, who have described his death as a 'modern-day lynching.' A renowned pathologist hired by the family conducted a private autopsy and noted that many of the bullets entered Spencer's body from behind, which they argue contradicts a claim of self-defense. The family and their attorney have criticized the investigation and have called for federal authorities to intervene, expressing hope for a federal indictment. While the state police's Heritage Affairs unit, which investigates hate crimes, was notified, it was determined there was no evidence of racial bias in the case.
