Weekly DA update outlines fatal shooting plea, Coatesville gunfire case, and repeat stalking conviction
Chester County, PA – Prosecutors in Chester County secured a guilty plea in a fatal shooting, handed down a prison sentence in a gunfire case involving four victims, and obtained a conviction against a repeat stalking offender, according to a weekly update released by the District Attorney’s Office.
The most serious case involved Holden Hoffsis of Phoenixville, who on March 20 pleaded guilty to third-degree murder in the 2024 shooting death of 22-year-old Daniel Gray. The plea resulted in a sentence of 12.5 to 25 years in state prison.
Authorities said the case originated in the early morning hours of November 8, 2024, when Hoffsis called 911 claiming he had accidentally shot his friend. Responding officers found Gray with a fatal gunshot wound to the chest. Investigators later determined the shooting occurred while the defendant handled a revolver during a night involving video games, alcohol, marijuana, and cocaine.
Fatal shooting plea and sentencing
According to the release, “On March 20, 2026, Holden Hoffsis, of Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, pled guilty to Murder of the Third Degree before the Honorable Sarah Black.” Officials added that the plea “caused the Defendant to be sentenced to 12.5-25 years in state prison.”
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District Attorney Christopher de Barrena-Sarobe said, “This was a difficult and emotional case. I am proud of the investigators and prosecutors who worked with Mr. Gray’s family to hold the Defendant accountable for this senseless murder.”
Key Points
- Phoenixville man sentenced to 12.5–25 years for 2024 fatal shooting
- Coatesville man receives 8–16 years for firing at four people
- Oxford man convicted on multiple stalking charges after repeated offenses
In a separate case, 23-year-old Damonte Reason of Coatesville was sentenced on March 30 to 8 to 16 years in prison after firing multiple shots at four individuals standing on a porch in July 2023. None of the victims were struck, but investigators recovered eight shell casings and linked Reason to the scene through DNA evidence.
The District Attorney’s Office said Reason faced charges including aggravated assault and discharging a firearm into an occupied structure, along with a separate drug-related offense.
District Attorney de Barrena-Sarobe stated, “Shooting guns at people means that you are going to be investigated, arrested, and sent to state prison. The Coatesville Police Department did great work on this case and together we made sure that this Defendant was justly punished for endangering the community.”
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Repeat offender convicted in stalking case
In another case, 28-year-old John V. Kearney of Oxford was convicted on March 13 of stalking and harassment following a jury trial. Prosecutors detailed a pattern of repeated offenses dating back to 2018, including violating court orders and continuing to contact the victim while incarcerated.
Authorities said Kearney attempted to reach the victim more than 236 times between March and May 2024 while in prison, in addition to sending letters. He was convicted of eleven counts of stalking and related charges and is awaiting sentencing.
The cases are part of ongoing efforts by the Chester County District Attorney’s Office to prosecute violent crime and repeat offenders across the region.
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