In the small community of Hummelstown, Pennsylvania, a tragic event unfolded on the evening of January 14, 2016, forever altering the lives of a local family. Inside a home on the 200 block of West Main Street, 14-year-old Caleb Wehry, a white male, suffered a fatal gunshot wound. Emergency services were called to the residence shortly before 6 p.m., but the young teen was pronounced dead at the scene.
Caleb was a freshman at Lower Dauphin High School, known for his smart, athletic,
humorous, and handsome nature. He was a boy who loved life, whether it was riding his bike and scooter around town, his 4-wheeler at the farm, or fishing with friends at the Swatara Creek. His obituary lovingly remembers him as someone who was quick to make you smile and laugh, and whose life touched the hearts and souls of many. He was actively involved in baseball, wrestling, football, and the Lower Dauphin Livestock 4-H Club, and his brother Colton was his best friend.
In the days following the shooting, the Dauphin County Coroner’s office conducted an autopsy and an investigation into the cause and manner of Caleb's death. While the initial reports were pending further investigation, the incident was consistently referred to as a 'tragic accident' in his obituary. Later reports from the coroner confirmed this, officially ruling the manner of death as accidental.
The investigation by the Hummelstown Police Department did not lead to any arrests or the identification of any suspects, which is consistent with the finding that the shooting was an accident. The community was left to mourn the sudden and heartbreaking loss of a young man who was dearly loved by his family and friends.
