Phoenixville Man Sentenced After Killing Friend In Video Game Dispute: DA

PHOENIXVILLE, PA — A Phoenixville man was sentenced to 12.5 to 25 years in prison in the 2024 killing of a friend over a video game dispute, authorities said.

Holden Hoffsis, 22, pleaded guilty to third degree murder of Daniel Gray before he was sentenced by Judge Sarah Black in the Chester County Court of Common Pleas.

"This was a difficult and emotional case," Chester County District Attorney Christopher de Barrena-Sarobe said in a statement. "I am proud of the investigators and prosecutors who worked with Mr. Gray’s family to hold the Defendant accountable for this senseless murder."

The incident occurred on Nov. 8 at around 3:27 a.m. on Westhorpe Lane in Phoenixville.

Hoffsis and the 22-year-old Gray got into an argument over a game of Fortnite, police said.

Throughout the night, Hoffsis took his revolver out of a safe and repeatedly loaded and unloaded it while they played the game, drank, and ingested drugs, according to authorities.

Hoffsis later told police that he kept the weapon nearby for protection.

After losing a round of the game, Hoffsis stood up to confront Gray, held the gun out toward him, said "bang," and pulled the trigger, police said.

Hoffsis remains at Chester County Prison.