Richard Pepe, 36, was killed on April 21, 1993 at the Pennant Sports Bar in Ridley Township, Pennsylvania. Around 11:30 PM, Teryl Wyrick entered the bar armed with a .38 caliber revolver and, reportedly believing Pepe to be his ex-girlfriend Hope Popoleo’s new partner, shot Pepe in the neck at close range. Pepe was taken to hospital and died the following morning.

Wyrick also shot Popoleo, 26, in the shoulder and fired additional rounds that struck bystanders Anthony Casterioto and Jeffrey Baker. Wyrick fled but was arrested less than an hour after Pepe’s death and charged with murder, assault, and weapons offenses. At trial in April 1994 Wyrick said he had no memory of the shooting due to an alcoholic blackout; Hope’s mother testified that Hope and Wyrick had never dated and that Pepe was a friend.

The jury convicted Wyrick of two counts of first-degree murder and aggravated assault; the jury deadlocked on the death penalty, and Judge Charles Keeler imposed two consecutive life terms plus 10 to 20 years.