Zachary Gula Obituary, Death – Authorities have officially identified the man killed in a recent shooting in Mechanicsburg. Cumberland County Coroner Charles Hall confirmed that 35-year-old Zachary Gula, a resident of Mechanicsburg, was the victim of the fatal incident, which occurred on Sunday, July 13, in the 400 block of East Marble Street.
According to court documents, Mechanicsburg Police have charged another local man, 35-year-old Richard Lee King Jr., with criminal homicide in connection to the shooting. When police arrived on the scene, they found King sitting next to Gula’s lifeless body on the front lawn of the residence. Officers noted that Gula was “obviously deceased” at the time of their arrival.
The affidavit filed by investigators stated that King admitted to shooting Gula with a handgun, which authorities later located inside the home. King claimed that Gula had attacked him before the shooting, prompting him to defend himself. However, police reported that King showed no visible injuries that might support his self-defense claim.
Further examination of the crime scene revealed that Gula had suffered a single gunshot wound under his right collarbone. Investigators obtained a search warrant for King’s home, which led them to more evidence. Inside the house, officers discovered a trail of blood beginning in the living room and continuing out through the front door, across the porch, and into the yard where Gula’s body was found. This blood trail provided investigators with a clearer picture of how the incident unfolded.
A Glock handgun was also recovered from King’s bedroom. The weapon was found with a magazine still inserted and a spent shell casing jammed in the slide—a condition known as “stovepiping,” which occurs when a casing fails to eject properly after a shot. This discovery supported King’s admission that he had used the firearm.
King was arraigned the following Monday morning. Due to the serious nature of the charge—criminal homicide—bail was denied, and he was taken into custody at the Cumberland County Prison.
As the investigation continues, more details may emerge about the events leading up to the shooting. For now, police are relying on forensic evidence, witness statements, and King’s own account to piece together the full story.
The tragic incident has left the Mechanicsburg community in shock, as two lives have been irreparably changed—one lost and one now facing severe legal consequences. Investigators are expected to continue gathering evidence and testimonies as the case moves through the court system.
