Police: Man, 19, charged after shooting friend in the head during argument

A 19-year-old man has been charged after police say he shot his friend in the head during an argument inside a Lancaster County home on Sunday. - Download the WGAL app- LIKE WGAL on Facebook The shooting occurred around 3:30 p.m. inside a home at 283 Orchard Road in Brecknock Township.State police say Alexander Murray, 19, of Mohnton, Pa., intentionally shot Timothy Demeritt, 22, of Bowmansville. Demerrit, who was hit in the forehead, was taken to the hospital and is in critical condition. Murray was arrested and is being held at the Lancaster County Prison. He faces two counts of aggravated assault. Court documents show suspect told conflicting stories In the affidavit of probable cause, state police say Murray told them two different versions of events. In the first interview, which happened at the shooting scene, he said he was trying to push the gun away when it went off and struck Demerrit. “Murray was interviewed on the scene and releated Demeritt was handling his firearm when Demeritt put the firearm to his forehead. Murray continued to relate he attempted to push the firearm away from Demeritt when the firearm went off,” the document states. State police said they recovered a Marakov 9mm pistol on a couch near where Demeritt was shot. Police say Murray told them another story in a subsequent interview at Pennsylvania State Police headquarters in Lancaster.“Murray admitted to pointing the firearm at Demeritt during an argument in an attempt to intimidate Demeritt. Murray related that he pulled the trigger and believed the safety was on the firearm and did not expect the firearm to fire,” the document states. Stay with WGAL for updates on this developing story.

A 19-year-old man has been charged after police say he shot his friend in the head during an argument inside a Lancaster County home on Sunday.



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The shooting occurred around 3:30 p.m. inside a home at 283 Orchard Road in Brecknock Township.



State police say Alexander Murray, 19, of Mohnton, Pa., intentionally shot Timothy Demeritt, 22, of Bowmansville. Demerrit, who was hit in the forehead, was taken to the hospital and is in critical condition.

Murray was arrested and is being held at the Lancaster County Prison. He faces two counts of aggravated assault.

Court documents show suspect told conflicting stories

In the affidavit of probable cause, state police say Murray told them two different versions of events. In the first interview, which happened at the shooting scene, he said he was trying to push the gun away when it went off and struck Demerrit.

“Murray was interviewed on the scene and releated Demeritt was handling his firearm when Demeritt put the firearm to his forehead. Murray continued to relate he attempted to push the firearm away from Demeritt when the firearm went off,” the document states.

State police said they recovered a Marakov 9mm pistol on a couch near where Demeritt was shot.

Police say Murray told them another story in a subsequent interview at Pennsylvania State Police headquarters in Lancaster.



“Murray admitted to pointing the firearm at Demeritt during an argument in an attempt to intimidate Demeritt. Murray related that he pulled the trigger and believed the safety was on the firearm and did not expect the firearm to fire,” the document states.

Stay with WGAL for updates on this developing story.