Jacob Pfeifer-Johnson, a 24-year-old male of Philadelphia, tragically died on January 16, 2019, from a gunshot wound to the chest. The incident occurred inside the home of his lifelong friend, Cory Lei Ray, in the 80 block of Indigo Road in Bristol Township, Levittown, PA. Pfeifer-Johnson and Ray had just returned from a trip to the Neshaminy Mall when the shooting happened.
Ray, who was also 24 years old, told investigators that he had removed his H and K P2000 9mm handgun from its
holster and was attempting to clear the firearm when it accidentally discharged, striking Pfeifer-Johnson. Ray claimed that he did not realize he had forgotten to drop the magazine, which caused another round to enter the chamber. According to Ray, his thumb slipped off the hammer while he was trying to de-cock it, causing the weapon to fire.
Emergency services were called to the scene, and Pfeifer-Johnson was found bleeding on the floor. Despite being rushed to St. Mary Medical Center and undergoing emergency surgery, he succumbed to his injuries hours later. An autopsy confirmed that the cause of death was a gunshot wound to the chest.
Following the incident, Ray was charged with involuntary manslaughter and recklessly endangering another person. He was arraigned and released on $500,000 unsecured bail. In court, Ray pleaded no contest to the charges as part of a negotiated plea deal. Bucks County Judge Jeffrey Finley sentenced Ray to one year of probation and ordered him to pay restitution to the Pennsylvania Crime Victims’ Compensation Assistance Fund. As part of the plea agreement, Ray is prohibited from ever owning or possessing a firearm again.
The case was treated as a tragic accident, with Ray's attorney and the Bucks County District Attorney emphasizing that Pfeifer-Johnson's death was avoidable and urging gun owners to keep their firearms safe. Ray expressed deep remorse and stated that he considered Pfeifer-Johnson more like a brother than a friend.
This unfortunate incident highlights the importance of firearm safety and the devastating consequences that can result from even a momentary lapse in attention.
