In the early hours of January 29, 2021, a dispute in the parking lot of Club Erotica in McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania, escalated into a deadly shooting that claimed the life of 31-year-old Seth Andrew McDermit. The male victim was a father of four and a jail corrections officer. The incident, which also resulted in the death of 22-year-old Christopher Butler and injuries to three other individuals, stemmed from an altercation between two groups of people.
The conflict began shortly after 2:30 a.m. when McDermit, Butler, and their friends stepped outside the club. An argument involving several women quickly escalated. Charles Becher, a 24-year-old military veteran, became involved after two of his female relatives inserted themselves into the confrontation. Witnesses reported pushing, shoving, and hitting before Becher, who had come from inside the club, drew a handgun. After pointing the weapon at the other group and striking a man in the face with it, the gun was knocked from his hand. As men from the other group advanced on him, Becher retrieved his weapon from the ground and opened fire, fatally wounding McDermit. Becher also sustained a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the leg during the chaos.
Following the shooting, Charles Becher was arrested and charged with homicide in connection with Seth McDermit's death. Another man, 25-year-old Khalil Walls, was charged in the killing of Christopher Butler. At his trial, Becher claimed he acted in self-defense. Security footage played in court showed that McDermit had been attempting to de-escalate the situation just before Becher drew his weapon and escalated the violence.
A jury found Charles Becher guilty of third-degree murder. Although an initial verdict was thrown out, leading to a new trial, he was ultimately convicted. In September 2024, a judge sentenced Becher to 12 to 24 years in prison, exceeding the sentencing guidelines after stating that Becher had gone 'looking for a fight.' During the sentencing, Becher cried and apologized to McDermit's family, expressing remorse for taking a son and a father from them. Khalil Walls, the man charged in Christopher Butler's death, was acquitted at his trial in 2022.
