Just five days short of one year since the shooting death of 23-year-old Derrick Davis, 28-year-old James Lantz yesterday pleaded guilty to third degree murder and aggravated assault. The plea came before the start of a scheduled pretrial hearing before Judge William Martin.
The shooting occurred June 17th last year in front of Davis’ home on Lovejoy Road in Green Township. Lantz hit Davis in the chest with a single shotgun blast as the two argued over Davis’ girlfriend. She had gone to Lantz’s home after arguing with Davis, and Lantz went next door and confronted Davis. Police say Lantz pulled a sawed-off shotgun from a backpack and fired a single shot, hitting Davis in the chest. He told police he meant to shoot into the ground or the air, but panicked when Davis started approaching him.
District Attorney Pat Dougherty says third degree murder carries a maximum sentence of forty years in prison. Lantz will be sentenced on August 23rd.
