A late-night dispute outside Club Erotica in McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania, turned deadly on January 29, 2021. At about 2:30 a.m., an argument involving several women escalated when groups that included 31-year-old Seth Andrew McDermit and 22-year-old Christopher Butler stepped outside. Witnesses described pushing and hitting before 24-year-old Charles Becher, who had come from inside the club, drew a handgun. The gun was knocked from Becher’s hand; after retrieving it, he opened fire, fatally wounding McDermit. Becher also sustained a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the leg in the chaos. Three other people were injured in the shooting.

Becher was arrested and charged in connection with McDermit’s death. At trial he claimed self-defense; security footage played in court reportedly showed McDermit attempting to de-escalate moments before Becher drew the weapon. A jury found Becher guilty of third-degree murder. Another man, 25-year-old Khalil Walls, was charged in Butler’s death but was acquitted at his trial in 2022.

If anyone witnessed the confrontation outside the club or has information about what happened that night, please share what is known.