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<p>FAIRMOUNT TWP. &#8212; A township man is facing homicide charges after police allege he fatally shot another man during a physical altercation.</p><p>Keith Williams, 40, of 1034 Old Tioga Turnpike, faces a single charge of criminal homicide.</p><p>According to Pennsylvania State Police, Williams shot Brock Earnest, 40, of Montandon, in the upper torso with a shotgun after the altercation inside Williams&#8217; Fairmount Township residence.</p><p>Earnest was pronounced dead at the scene by officials of the Luzerne County Coroner&#8217;s Office. An autopsy was performed Thursday, and Luzerne County Coroner William Lisman listed the cause of death as a single shotgun wound to the chest.</p><p>The manner of death was ruled a homicide.</p><p>The incident marks the first homicide in Luzerne County since the <a href="https://www.timesleader.com/news/609001/neighbor-uncle-share-memories-of-wilkes-barre-motherson-murder-victims" target="_blank">double-murder/suicide</a> that happened in November in Wilkes-Barre.</p><p>Pennsylvania State Police at the scene declined comment.</p><p>According to a criminal complaint, Pennsylvania State Police in Shickshinny received a phone call at 10:30 p.m. Wednesday from Deidre Depiero. Police said Depiero claimed her boyfriend, identified as Williams, shot Earnest in the stomach with a shotgun.</p><p>When troopers arrived on the scene, Williams was allegedly outside of the residence with his hands in the air and told troopers he shot Earnest.</p><p>Police allege that during an initial search, officers found a shotgun shell in Williams&#8217; possession. A Remington 870 shotgun was also found on the front porch of the residence, along with several spent shotgun casings nearby.</p><p>Troopers found Earnest lying on his back in the living room with an &#8220;apparent&#8221; gunshot wound to his upper chest, according to police. EMS personnel were unable to find a pulse on Earnest, and he was declared dead by Luzerne County Deputy Coroner Dennis Dobinick at 12:04 a.m. Thursday.</p><p>In an interview with police, Depiero told troopers she had been dating Williams for three years, and that she knew Earnest since November.</p><p>Depiero explained to investigators that at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Earnest contacted her and told her he was dying of mouth cancer. Depiero then drove approximately an hour to Earnest&#8217;s residence and brought him back to the residence that she shared with Williams on Old Tioga Turnpike.</p><p>Once back at the residence, Williams and Earnest then took the shotgun outside and fired a few rounds off. Depiero told police Williams and Earnest each had four beers, but were not intoxicated.</p><p>Depiero told police Williams and Earnest then came inside the residence, where the two engaged in &#8220;playful&#8221; fighting in the living room. The alleged fighting then escalated, and Depiero said Earnest began to push and hit Williams and told him to &#8220;fight back.&#8221;</p><p>Police said Depiero separated the men, and that Earnest sat on the couch while Williams went to a bedroom.</p><p>A few minutes later, Williams emerged from the bedroom with the shotgun and shot Earnest once while he was on the couch, according to police. Depiero then called 911.</p><p>In his interview with police, Williams told police that Earnest was &#8220;hitting on&#8221; Depiero as she drove him back to their residence.</p><p> Williams allegedly told police he felt &#8220;threatened&#8221; by the victim, which prompted him to go to his bedroom and get the shotgun.</p><p>Williams further told police Earnest was trying to fight him, and at one point, Earnest had taken his shirt off.</p><p>Williams also told investigators both he and Depiero each tried CPR while emergency personnel were en route.</p><p>Court documents indicate Williams was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Daniel O&#8217;Donnell at 9 a.m. Thursday. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge John Hasay at 9 a.m. on Jan. 25.</p><p>Officials at Hasay&#8217;s office said they did not yet have a criminal complaint.</p><p>Williams was denied bail due to the nature of the charges.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Williams </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/web1_web1_williams-keith-m-10.jpg</photo0><caption0>Williams </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><subheadMeta>Police: Keith Williams, 40, shot Brock Earnest, also 40</subheadMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Travis Kellar</p><p>tkellar@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Travis Kellar at 570-991-6389.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Fairmount Twp. man charged with homicide