Brian Wilbert, 38, of Robinson Township, was shot once in the torso on the evening of April 27, 2016, after going to the home of his ex-girlfriend in Burgettstown, Pennsylvania. He was flown to Allegheny General Hospital and died in the early hours of April 28, 2016. Investigators recovered a .38-caliber handgun registered to 68-year-old James Bongiorni, the ex-girlfriend’s father and a former Burgettstown police officer; a knife was found inside Wilbert’s vehicle. An autopsy showed Wilbert’s blood-alcohol level was more than three times the legal limit to drive.

Bongiorni surrendered and was charged with criminal homicide. At trial in Washington County Court the defense argued he acted in self-defense to protect himself and his daughter, while the prosecution argued Wilbert was not making aggressive moves when shot and pointed to witness testimony and a video. After a week of testimony the jury acquitted Bongiorni of murder and manslaughter following about two hours of deliberation. Wilbert’s mother later filed a civil wrongful death lawsuit against Bongiorni and his wife.