Officer-Involved Shooting Leads to Charges Against Lancaster Man

Officer-Involved Shooting Leads to Charges Against Lancaster Man

LANCASTER CITY, PA – William Oneill, 40, of Hershey Ave., Lancaster City, has been charged with multiple offenses by the Lancaster County District Attorney’s Office following an officer-involved shooting on Wednesday.

The charges include criminal attempted homicide, aggravated assault, assault against a law enforcement officer, and illegal firearm possession.

At 4:40 a.m. on Wednesday, Lancaster City Bureau of Police officers were dispatched to Oneill’s residence in response to a disturbance.

Upon arrival, officers encountered Oneill brandishing an AR-15 rifle. Police vehicle MVR footage showed Oneill firing at officers, who then returned fire, injuring him. He remains in critical but stable condition under hospital guard.

Oneill’s criminal history includes aggravated assault in 2001 and rape by forcible compulsion in 2008. The scene examination by the Lancaster County Forensic team found evidence consistent with the events described. The Lancaster County District Attorney, Heather Adams, will review the incident and determine the appropriateness of police force used.