Demetrius Williams, 24, was shot and killed at his Lancaster City home on Monday morning, April 14, 2025. Police and emergency responders were called to a residence on the 400 block of North Mulberry Street, where Williams was found with a gunshot wound and transported to Penn Medicine Lancaster General Hospital. He was pronounced dead at 10:47 a.m.

Authorities arrested 25-year-old David Anthony Pearce Jr. later that same day. Police say Williams and Pearce were known to each other. According to reports, Pearce allegedly found a handgun in Williams’ bedroom, believed it to be unloaded, loaded a magazine, manipulated the slide so a round was chambered and then pulled the trigger; a single shot struck Williams in the torso. Pearce was charged with involuntary manslaughter and recklessly endangering another person and was remanded to Lancaster County Prison after failing to post $300,000 bail. An autopsy was scheduled and the 400 block of North Mulberry Street was closed for several hours during the investigation.

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to come forward.