Pittsburgh Law Student Shot and Killed While Talking on Phone Outside Bar
A University of Pittsburgh law student was shot and killed Wednesday night while talking on his cell phone on a park bench outside a bar in York, Pa.
The victim, 28-year-old James Wallmuth, had worked as a summer associate with York lawyer John Hamme and would have been a 2L this year, Hamme told the York Dispatch. Wallmuth formerly worked as a case manager in the York County District Attorney’s office.
“He went into law not to make money—he did it to help people,” Hamm told the publication. “He was just a great guy, and brilliant.”
York County District Attorney Tom Kearney said the shooting appeared to be a random act of violence, according to the York Daily Record. “He happened to be at wrong place at wrong time,” Kearney said.
Kearney told the York Dispatch that the early investigation indicates that Wallmuth was out with a group of friends when he stepped outside to take a phone call from his girlfriend. According to police, Wallmuth was confronted by a man with a group of males. The man started to walk away, then turned and shot Wallmuth.
