Matthew Mitchell, a 17-year-old male from Greencastle, PA, tragically passed away on December 31, 2016. He was a junior at Greencastle Antrim High School and had recently started working at Sunny Way Diner. Known for his charm, charisma, and sense of humor, Matthew was deeply loved by his family and friends. He enjoyed activities such as video games, watching zombie movies, lifting weights, fishing, and spending time with animals.
Matthew's death was the result of a fatal shooting by
Taylor Alan Nelson, a 15-year-old friend, at Nelson's home in Greencastle. On New Year's Eve, Nelson and Mitchell had an argument, and Nelson retrieved a handgun from his father's nightstand to scare Mitchell. Nelson claimed he did not intend to kill Mitchell and was unaware that the gun was loaded. Unfortunately, Nelson picked up the gun about 10 minutes later, dropped the magazine, and put the gun to Mitchell's head, resulting in the fatal shot.
Following the incident, Taylor Alan Nelson was charged with felony criminal homicide. Nelson's father, Mark Nelson, was also charged with endangering the welfare of children, corruption of minors, and recklessly endangering another person due to the presence of unsecured guns and ammunition in their home. The case drew significant attention, and Nelson was tried as an adult, with his preliminary hearing set for January 10, 2017.
The tragic death of Matthew Mitchell highlighted the dangers of unsecured firearms in homes and the devastating consequences of impulsive actions. The community mourned the loss of a young life full of potential and remembered Matthew for the joy and energy he brought into their lives.
