Probation For Man Who Killed Friend

A 25-year-old Bristol Township man will serve probation for the unintentional killing of his friend.

Before Bucks County Judge Jeffrey Finley on Monday, Cory Lei Ray, 25, pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge of involuntary manslaughter as part of a negotiated plea deal.

The judge sentenced Ray to one year probation and ordered him to pay restitution of $5,133.31 to the Pennsylvania Crime Victims’ Compensation Assistance Fund, according to the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office.

On January 16, Ray unintentionally shot his friend Jacob Pfeifer-Johnson, 24, of Philadelphia, inside the 25-year-old man’s family home in the 80 block of Indigo Road in Bristol Township’s Levittown section.

Ray had a valid concealed carry permit and no prior criminal history.

In court papers, investigators said Ray told them he removed his H and K P2000 9mm handgun from its holster and was attempting to clear the firearm when it went off and a bullet struck Pfeifer-Johnson. He said he did not realize he forgot to drop the magazine and that caused another round to enter the chamber.

“Cory said that when he went to de-cock the hammer, he had his left thumb on the hammer while pulling the trigger and his thumb slipped off the hammer, causing the weapon to fire,” Bristol Township Detective William O’Keefe and Bucks County Detective David Coyne wrote in court papers.

Ray said he aided Pfeifer-Johnson as he laid bleeding on the floor.

Court papers noted Pfeifer-Johnson was heard talking to responders about dying while they treated him.

Pfeifer-Johnson died at St. Mary Medical Center in Middletown hours after the shooting.

The two lifelong friends had returned to Levittown after a trip to the Neshaminy Mall and were talking about what they bought in the moments leading up to the shooting.

“Mr. Pfeifer-Johnson’s death was a tragedy that would have been avoided if not for the series of errors Mr. Ray made while attempting to unload his handgun and make it safe,” said Deputy District Attorney David Keightly Jr. “However, given the extensive cooperation and genuine remorse displayed by Mr. Ray, as well as the wishes of the victim’s family, we felt that this was an appropriate sentence.”

Ray told the judge that he had been friends with Pfeifer-Johnson since first grade and remains friends with members of his family.

“I thought of him more as a brother than just a best friend,” Ray said in court.

As part of the plea agreement, Ray will never be able to own or possess a firearm.