William Hopkins, 19, was shot and killed on January 21, 2014, at a family home on Mascher Street in the Olney neighborhood of Philadelphia. He had been spending the afternoon with his close friend Hector Echevarria; the pair were known for being inseparable and for playing pickup basketball and handball together. According to Echevarria, an older brother had brought a pump-action shotgun to the house; after Echevarria unloaded the weapon and watched shells fall onto the bed, the shotgun discharged as he passed it to Hopkins and a single shot struck Hopkins in the chest. Hopkins was pronounced dead at the scene shortly after police arrived.

Echevarria was arrested the next day and charged with murder and involuntary manslaughter. Hopkins’s mother, Bernadette Lamberto, publicly forgave Echevarria and said she believed the shooting was a tragic accident and that her son would have forgiven him. Echevarria later pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter; he received a sentence of six to twelve months in a county prison work-release program, three years of probation and 150 hours of community service, including speaking to youth about firearm dangers. If anyone knew William or was present that afternoon, please share what you remember.