In the winter of 2016, a dispute inside a Harrisburg bar tragically escalated, leading to the death of 44-year-old Derick Garner. The incident, which unfolded on December 29, 2016, has since resulted in a first-degree murder conviction for the man responsible for his death.
The evening's events began at OD's Plantation, a bar located at the corner of 16th and Sycamore Streets. An argument erupted between Derick Garner and another patron, Eric King.
According to prosecutors, King felt 'disrespected' by Garner during the altercation. The situation quickly turned violent when King produced a 9mm handgun and fired at Garner across a pool table.
Wounded, Garner managed to exit the bar, but the assault was far from over. Surveillance footage from outside the establishment captured what happened next. King was seen getting into the passenger side of a vehicle, and as it pulled away, he fired four more shots at Garner, who was attempting to flee. Garner was struck in the face and abdomen. He was rushed to Hershey Medical Center, where he ultimately succumbed to his injuries.
The investigation into Derick Garner's death led to the arrest of Eric King. During his trial, the prosecution presented the compelling surveillance evidence that documented the entire tragic event. King's defense attorney argued that his client was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder from a previous incident where he himself had been shot outside the same bar in 2008. The defense also claimed that King was acting in self-defense.
After a five-day trial and approximately seven hours of deliberation, a Dauphin County jury found Eric King, then 36, guilty of first-degree murder. The conviction carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison. Chief Deputy District Attorney Jennifer Gettle argued during the trial that King's actions were not those of someone afraid, but rather a 'coward' who shot a man as he was trying to escape.
