LEBANON, Pa. — The Lebanon County District Attorney's Office ruled the use of deadly force was justified in the shooting of a Lebanon man.
The shooting occurred in May of 2023 at 8 a.m. along the first block of Jones Street, according to Lebanon City Police.
Officers responding to a shots fired call located Thomas Vance, 33, of Lebanon, who was suffering from a gunshot wound, according to police. Vance was transported to a Dauphin County hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.
The shooter, whose identity will not be released, remained at the scene and was taken into custody without incident, police said. He was later released on bail.
The preliminary investigation suggested the shooting was the result of a verbal altercation that escalated, according to police.
Investigators reviewed multiple video sources of the incident and interviewed witnesses. The firearm believed to have been used in the shooting was also recovered, police said.
According to Lebanon County District Attorney Pier Hass Graf, the ruling comes as a result of a months-long, joint investigation. Vance and the citizen knew each other prior to the fatal meeting.
The two became engaged in a physical altercation, both taking various swings and lunges at each other, after Vance displayed a handheld weapon.
According to officials, Vance reached for a black pipe on the ground. The citizen swung his silver tool to block Vance from grabbing the pipe, which caused him to lose control of the pipe altogether.
Vance reportedly grabbed a black pike and chased the citizen as he ran toward his home. However, Vance caught the citizen and repeatedly struck the pipe over his head.
After escaping, the citizen reportedly retrieved a lawfully owned gun from his car and pointed it in Vance's direction. Despite telling Vance multiple times to back away, he continued the chase, causing the citizen to shoot Vance in the upper torso, according to Graf.
After he was shot, Vance backed away, dropped the pipe and attempted to walk off the property, however, he collapsed just a short distance from the citizen's property.
According to the Lebanon County District Attorney's Office, the citizen's use of deadly force is lawful under Pennsylvania's laws of self-defense and the "Castle Doctrine."
“Any loss of life is tragic. Families are left without their loved ones. In this instance, the fatality is especially tragic as it was wholly avoidable. Had the decedent chosen a lawful route to reclaim his property, had he not approached a second time aggressively, had he at any moment walked away in lieu of escalating the situation, the citizen would not have utilized his firearm," Graf explained.
"The video makes it clear the citizen resorted to the gunshot only after the citizen undertook multiple efforts to make the decedent leave his property and leave him alone. In the heat of the moment, the decedent chose to pursue and give chase. The citizen acted lawfully, but regrettably, in the death of the decedent,” Graf continued.
