Dameian L. Williams, a 48-year-old Black/African American male from Jeannette, Pennsylvania, died on September 6, 2019, after a shooting outside McKee Stadium in Jeannette during a high school football game between Jeannette High School and Imani Christian. The game was in its closing minutes when violence broke out near the main gate outside the stadium fence.
What had been a Friday night community event quickly turned into a chaotic scene as police and emergency responders converged on the area and the stadium crowd was evacuated.
Authorities identified the suspected shooter as Greg A. Harper, then 40, of Jeannette. Police said Williams was shot outside the stadium, and Harper was taken into custody soon after. Harper was initially charged with criminal homicide and reckless endangerment. The shooting drew major attention because it happened at a crowded school sports event, with hundreds of people nearby and the sound of gunfire interrupting what should have been an ordinary night.
Early in the case, Harper claimed the shooting was self-defense. According to reports from court proceedings, Harper said Williams attacked him from behind, struck him in the head, and knocked him down near the stadium entrance. Harper’s account was that the confrontation happened quickly and that he fired because he believed he needed to protect himself. Prosecutors, however, continued forward with the homicide case, and a judge ordered Harper to stand trial on the charges.
The case remained pending for more than two years before Harper entered a guilty plea in 2022. He pleaded guilty to third-degree murder, a lesser charge than first-degree murder, which had carried the possibility of a life sentence. As part of the plea resolution, other counts, including first-degree murder and reckless endangerment, were dismissed. His defense attorney said at the time that accepting the plea was a difficult decision, and that the defense planned to present mitigation at sentencing.
At sentencing, Harper again described the shooting as something that unfolded in seconds. He told the judge he was trying to preserve his own life, while also saying he was remorseful that Williams was gone and remorseful for what his own children had lost. The court ultimately sentenced Harper to 11 to 25 years in prison for the killing.
Years after the conviction, Harper continued challenging the guilty plea. He argued that he had been misled by his attorney and claimed he wanted the chance to pursue self-defense at trial. He also asserted that he had been improperly advised about the sentence he might receive. A judge rejected the attempt to withdraw the plea, finding that Harper had been properly informed about the possible prison time. Harper later appealed again, continuing to claim that he had been pressured or coerced into accepting the plea deal.
The known public record points to one identified suspect, Greg A. Harper, who was arrested, charged, pleaded guilty to third-degree murder, and was sentenced to 11 to 25 years in prison. The case began as a fatal shooting outside a packed high school football stadium and ended, at least in the trial court, with Harper’s conviction standing despite his later efforts to undo the plea.
