Frederick Perry, a 40-year-old man from Erie, Pennsylvania, tragically passed away on October 21, 2020, at St. Vincent Hospital. He was fatally shot outside a convenience store at West 18th and Chestnut Streets in Erie. The incident occurred around 5:30 p.m., and Perry succumbed to a single gunshot wound to the chest.
Erie police identified Kyontia L. Blanks, a 24-year-old Erie man, as the suspect in the shooting. Blanks was charged with one count each of criminal homicide, aggravated assault, recklessly endangering another person, possessing an instrument of crime, and carrying a firearm without a license. Surveillance footage from the scene helped investigators identify Blanks as the assailant. An arrest warrant was issued for Blanks, but he was not in custody at the time the information was released.
The case went to trial, and in January 2023, Blanks was convicted of voluntary manslaughter. The jury found that Blanks had acted with intent, though under the mistaken belief that he needed to use deadly force to protect himself. On February 28, 2023, Erie County Judge Daniel Brabender sentenced Blanks to nine to 18 years in state prison. The judge emphasized that Blanks' actions were intentional and that bringing a loaded gun to the scene was asking for trouble.
The tragic death of Frederick Perry and the subsequent legal proceedings highlight the serious consequences of carrying and using firearms in public spaces. The case also underscores the importance of self-defense claims and the legal system's role in determining intent and responsibility in such incidents.
