On April 19, 2023, at approximately 2:42 a.m., New Castle police responded to a vehicle accident at the intersection of Cascade Street and Butler Avenue. Upon arrival, officers discovered a car that had collided with a metal utility pole and was engulfed in flames. Nearby, they found 42-year-old Lance Louis lying on the ground, while a female passenger was seated with severe leg fractures. Both individuals were transported to a local hospital, where Louis was pronounced dead.
Initial assessments suggested the incident was a fatal car crash. However, further investigation revealed that Louis had sustained a gunshot wound to his back. Witnesses reported that Louis had been shot while seated in his vehicle outside a residence on Adams Street. Despite his injuries, he attempted to flee the scene, leading to the subsequent crash and vehicle fire.
Authorities identified 20-year-old Leighton Jade Weaver of Youngstown, Ohio, as the primary suspect in the shooting. Weaver, a convicted felon, was alleged to have shot Louis following an altercation. A witness recounted that Weaver shot Louis in the back after the two met outside the Adams Street residence. After the shooting, Louis drove away with a woman in the passenger seat before crashing into a utility pole, causing the car to catch fire. The woman sustained injuries in the incident.
Following the issuance of an arrest warrant, Weaver was apprehended in Miami, Florida, on May 10, 2023. He faced multiple charges, including criminal homicide, recklessly endangering another person, and firearms violations. The Lawrence County District Attorney's Office initiated extradition proceedings to return Weaver to Pennsylvania to stand trial.
By late June 2023, Weaver had been transported to the Lawrence County Jail. A preliminary hearing was scheduled for July 5, 2023, to address the charges related to the death of Lance Louis.
