LANCASTER, Pa. — Editor's note: The above video is from Nov. 29.
A Lancaster man who was facing a slew of charges for allegedly firing a gun at officers has succumbed to his injuries over a month after he was critically wounded by officers' return fire.
William Joseph O'Neill, 40, died on Jan. 2, the Lancaster County District Attorney's Office said. Officials have withdrawn charges against him, which included criminal attempt homicide, aggravated assault, aggravated assault against a law enforcement officer, assault of a law enforcement officer and persons not to possess a firearm.
On Nov. 29 around 4:40 a.m., officers responded to Hershey Avenue in Lancaster to subdue a O'Neill, who was allegedly causing a disturbance and in possession of an AR-556 rifle.
Body camera footage provided by one of the officers allegedly depicted O'Neill walking to the front yard of the home and raising the weapon to a firing position, pointing it at the officer and ignoring commands to drop the weapon. When he failed to comply, three officers fired their weapons, authorities said. O'Neill was struck and taken to a hospital for treatment, where he was under police guard.
The DA's Office investigated the three officers who shot at O'Neill and ruled that their use of deadly force was justified on Dec. 12.