‘I accidentally shot my friend’: Frantic 911 call followed fatal shooting in West Chester

The Butler County Coroner’s Office has ruled the shooting death of a West Chester Twp. resident on Friday was a homicide.

Jesse K. Buabeng, 25, of West Chester Twp., was shot to death in the Lakota Lake Apartments Friday afternoon.

A 22-year-old male is listed as another person involved on the police report, but no charges have been filed, according to township spokeswoman Barb Wilson. The apartment where the shooting took place is listed as that man’s residence. Buabeng lived in the 8800 block of Eagleview Drive.

A hysterical 911 caller told dispatch, “Oh my God, I just shot my foot and I accidentally shot my friend, oh my God I need somebody, I need 911 right now please.”

The dispatcher repeatedly asked the caller to calm down so she could understand the address and what happened.

Another 911 caller said there were two gun shots.

“There was one pop and then I heard ahhhh, like screaming,” he said.

Police responded to a call of shots fired at 3:50 p.m. Friday at an apartment in the 6900 block of Lakeside Drive in the apartment complex. The police report indicates illegal possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia are also crimes involved in the incident.

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“Upon arrival, police found two males with apparent gunshot wounds,” the township said in a release. “One male was deceased. The second male had a gunshot wound to the foot and was transported to West Chester Hospital.”

Wilson said she could not release the other man’s condition. West Chester Hospital also could not confirm if he is still in the hospital.

Brad Burress, chief of the criminal division at the Butler County Prosecutor’s Office, told the Journal-News the shooting remains under investigation.

“The police department and the Butler County Prosecutor’s Office will be meeting really soon to discuss the facts of the case,” Burress said.

The township named the victim on Saturday but said the police were not seeking suspects.

“At this time, West Chester Police are not looking for suspects and have no reason to believe there is a threat to the community,” she said.

This is the fifth homicide ruling in the township in less than a year. Gurpreet Singh faces the death penalty for allegedly killing his wife and three other family members last April.

Singh, 37, is charged with four counts of aggravated murder, with specifications for using a firearm and killing two or more persons. He is being held in the Butler County Jail without bond, and his trial is scheduled to begin Sept 21.

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