In the early morning hours of January 9, 2016, a man from Philadelphia, 27-year-old Basil Hall, was fatally shot in Williamsport. The incident occurred at approximately 2:45 a.m. on Park Avenue, just outside the Pajama Factory, a complex that houses various businesses and art studios. Hall had been in attendance at an after-hours party within the building and was leaving when he was gunned down.
According to law enforcement, the shooting was not a random act of violence; they believe
Hall was specifically targeted. Investigators stated that the assailant or assailants knew Hall and that he was their intended victim. It is believed that at least two unidentified shooters confronted the unarmed Hall after he exited the building and shot him multiple times before fleeing the scene. One neighbor reported hearing what sounded like a firecracker followed by multiple other shots and then saw a car speeding away without its headlights on.
Despite the presence of what police believe to be dozens of witnesses, the investigation into Basil Hall's murder has been severely hampered by a lack of cooperation from the public. Neighbors who heard the gunshots and rushed to help found Hall with blood on his chest and coming from his mouth, gasping for air. One person attempted to keep him conscious until medical help arrived. Hall was transported to UPMC Susquehanna Williamsport Regional Medical Center, but he was pronounced dead upon arrival. The case remains an unsolved homicide, and as of the latest reports, no arrests have been made, and no suspects have been publicly identified. Authorities have continued to appeal to the public for any information that might lead to a breakthrough in the case, emphasizing the need for closure for Hall's grieving family, which includes his mother and two young children.
