On a Saturday evening in Sharon, Pennsylvania, 17-year-old Gavin D. Beighley was out riding his bicycle with three friends. It was just after 9 p.m. on January 7, 2023, when their ride near West Budd Street was shattered by gunfire. Gavin, a male senior at Sharon High School, was struck in the upper torso by a bullet. He was rushed to Sharon Regional Hospital, but tragically, he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead.
The investigation into the senseless act of violence led
police to 19-year-old Curtis R. Coleman III of Farrell. Coleman was arrested in connection with the shooting and, according to a criminal complaint, admitted to firing at Beighley and his friends from a distance of over 200 yards. He reportedly told police that the group of cyclists had not threatened him in any way and that he was unaware Beighley had died until he saw it on the news. Friends of Gavin described the death as senseless, and the community mourned the loss of the young man who was known for his love of camping, kayaking, and spending time with his friends. The superintendent of Sharon schools expressed devastation over the loss of their student and made counselors available to support the community.
Curtis R. Coleman III was taken into custody and booked into the Mercer County Jail. He faces a string of serious charges, including criminal homicide, two counts of aggravated assault, carrying a firearm without a license, and four counts of recklessly endangering another person. His bond was set at a staggering $2 million. The community was left to grapple with the aftermath of a young life cut short, with two families irrevocably altered by the night's tragic events.
