In what has been described as a tragic and isolated incident, Demetrius Williams, a 24-year-old man, was shot and killed in his Lancaster City home. The event unfolded on a Monday morning, April 14, 2025, when police and emergency services were called to a residence on the 400 block of North Mulberry Street for a reported shooting. Upon their arrival, they discovered Williams suffering from a gunshot wound. He was quickly transported to Penn Medicine Lancaster General Hospital, but despite the efforts of medical personnel, he was pronounced dead at 10:47 a.m.
The investigation into the shooting led to the swift arrest of 25-year-old David Anthony Pearce Jr. later that same day. Authorities have indicated that Williams and Pearce were known to each other, though the nature of their relationship has not been elaborated on. According to police reports, the shooting appears to have been unintentional. Pearce allegedly found a handgun in Williams' bedroom and began 'playing' with it. Believing the weapon to be unloaded, he loaded a magazine and manipulated the slide, which inadvertently chambered a round. He then pulled the trigger, firing a single shot that struck Williams in the torso.
Following his arrest, Pearce was charged with involuntary manslaughter and recklessly endangering another person. He was arraigned and subsequently remanded to Lancaster County Prison after failing to post a $300,000 bail. An autopsy for Demetrius Williams was scheduled to determine the official cause and manner of death. The 400 block of North Mulberry Street was closed for several hours as investigators processed the scene and interviewed witnesses. Police have asked for anyone with additional information to come forward as the investigation continues.
