A playful afternoon among friends took a tragic turn, resulting in the death of Daniel J. Smith, a 31-year-old man, on March 31, 2018, in Muhlenberg Township, Pennsylvania. Smith, a resident of Trumbauersville Borough and a Bucks County constable and paramedic, was fatally shot in what was described by authorities as an accidental shooting during a bout of 'horseplay.'
On that Saturday, Smith and his friend, 21-year-old Daniel Brymer of Newtown, were assisting another friend with moving
out of an apartment. The group had been amusing themselves with an airsoft gun while packing. According to court documents, the playful interaction involved Smith shooting Brymer twice with the non-lethal airsoft gun. Smith then handed the airsoft gun to Brymer, who placed it in his front pocket, near a real 9mm handgun that Smith had given him previously.
The tragic mistake occurred a short time later while the men were outside on the lawn. Brymer, intending to continue their playful exchange, reached for what he thought was the airsoft gun. Instead, he mistakenly drew the loaded 9mm handgun and fired, striking Smith.
When law enforcement officers arrived at the scene, they found a distraught Brymer, who was reportedly hysterical and crying, exclaiming, 'I shot him in the back.' Smith was immediately transported to Reading Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The following day, Daniel Brymer was arrested and charged with involuntary manslaughter and aggravated assault in connection with the shooting. He was later released on $100,000 bail to await a preliminary hearing.
