Bristol Man Charged In Friend's Shooting Death

BRISTOL, PA — A Bristol Township man has now been charged in what authorities say was the accidental shooting death of a man described as a lifelong friend of his.

Cory Lei Ray, 24, was arraigned Friday afternoon on counts of involuntary manslaughter and recklessly endangering another person in the Jan. 16 shooting of Jacob Pfeifer-Johnson, also 24, of Philadelphia.

Authorities say the shooting happened in the kitchen of Ray's home on Indigo Road. According to prosecutors, Ray shot Pfeifer-Johnson in the chest while trying to unload his 9-mm. handgun.

Ray told a detective he had forgotten to eject the handgun's loaded magazine before racking the slide, causing a live round to enter the gun's chamber. He said the weapon fired when his thumb slipped from the hammer as he was trying to uncock the gun.

Pfeifer-Johnson died at St. Mary Medical Center the following morning, about 13 hours after he was shot.

"Mr. Pfeifer-Johnson’s death was 100 percent avoidable," said Bucks County District Attorney Matthew D. Weintraub. "The tragic message here is, keep your guns safe."

The case was investigated by Bristol Township Police with the assistance of Bucks County detectives.

A hearing in the case is scheduled for Feb. 13. Ray remains free on unsecured bail.

Photo courtesy Bucks Couunty District Attorney's office