Ghost Gun Found After Fatal Shooting In Coatesville: Police

WEST CHESTER, PA — A 20-year-old man shot to death his 18-year-old friend while they played a dice game in a garage, not knowing the gun he picked up had a round waiting to fire, according to police.

Authorities are calling on the community to help them address weapons availability after the police investigation also turned up a "ghost gun" in the shooters' car. "Ghost guns" are unregulated and untraceable firearms that have no serial numbers.

The Chester County District Attorney's Office and the City of Coatesville Police Department late on Friday reported Dapree Bryant, 20, of Coatesville, is charged with Involuntary Manslaughter, Recklessly Endangering Another Person, Firearms Not to be Carried without a License, and related offenses in relations to the fatal shooting of Daryl Perry, 18. The firearms charges are felonies.

On May 29, Caln Township Police were called to Brandywine Hospital when a victim was reported with a gunshot wound to the head or neck after he was brought to the hospital by Bryant and another friend. The victim was later transferred to Paoli Hospital, where he died on May 30, authorities reported.

A police report said Bryant and the friend agreed to come to the police station for questioning.

Police said they learned the incident happened in the 300-block of Community Lane in Coatesville. When Coatesville City Police arrived at the address reported, they found blood on the driveway and outside a garage.

The victim had been socializing with friends, including Bryant, as they played a dice game in the garage, according to a police report.

While the victim sat in a chair looking at his phone, the defendant picked up a gun sitting on a plastic tub in the garage and began to play with it, police reported. The gun went off and struck Perry, according to the report. During this investigation, police determined that Bryant did not know there was a round in the chamber ready to fire.

Police initially were told that an unknown suspect wearing a mask had shot into the garage, striking Perry; however, later, they confirmed that Bryant accidentally discharged the weapon.

As an investigation continued, on June 2, Coatesville police said they recovered the firearm that was used in the shooting, a Remington RP45. Investigators also found a 9mm "ghost gun" — a gun assembled from DIY kits — and a box of bullets in Bryant's car, the police report said. The defendant does not have a license to carry a gun, the report noted.

Chester County District Attorney Deb Ryan said, "I want to express my deepest condolences to Mr. Perry’s family as they grieve this heart-wrenching loss. Parents should never have to bury a child, especially as the result of such a senseless tragedy. Mr. Perry was a new father who will not be able to watch his son grow up. I cannot stress enough the critical need to address gun violence in our county. These devastating losses affect not only families but entire communities."

Ryan added, "We have just begun to see 'ghost guns' in Chester County, and it is a disturbing trend. 'Ghost guns' are unregulated and untraceable firearms that are as dangerous and deadly as normal firearms. Those who unlawfully carry these weapons will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. We will not tolerate any more gun violence."

City of Coatesville Police Chief John Laufer said the ready availability of illegal firearms needs to be addressed by the whole community.

Laufer said, "Although the result was a senseless tragedy, and our thoughts and prayers are with the Perry family, the root cause of the death was access to illegal firearms. Addressing gun violence and the culture where illegal firearms are readily accepted by our youth will require more than efforts from the police. It will require the entire community to include parents, family, teachers, coaches, churches, and mentors in partnership with law enforcement to change that culture."

A preliminary hearing is scheduled on June 16 in front of Magisterial District Judge Hines, and bail is set at $100,000.

The City of Coatesville Police Department is investigating. Senior Deputy District Attorney Carlos Barraza is the assigned prosecutor. Police as anyone with information about the case to contact the City of Coatesville Police Department at 610-384-2300.

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