Roll of Honor
Incident
Corporal David Witmer was shot and killed when he answered a mutual aid call from the Zerbe Township police chief. The shooter went into a jealous rage when his ex-girlfriend received an obscene phone call. He set fire to what he believed was his ex-girlfriend's boyfriend's auto-body garage located in the small anthracite coal region town of Trevorton, Pennsylvania. The suspect then went stalking through the neighborhood from house to house. Holding up in the shadows, he fired a volley of shots that lasted for approximately 20 minutes. Corporal Witmer died almost instantly after being struck in the neck by a .30-.06 caliber rifle shot. Another officer was wounded, but survived. After killing Corporal Witmer, the suspect tried to flee the scene in his tractor trailer. He was apprehended by officers from the Shamokin City Police Department, Coal Township Police Department, and the Pennsylvania State Police. The subject was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. He died in prison on October 12th, 2013. Corporal Witmer was a U.S Military veteran had served with the Shamokin City Police Department for nine years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, daughter, and three grandsons.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-PA-5DED20A5- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Corporal Witmer gave the Shamokin City Police Department 9 years.
Thank you for your service to the Shamokin community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
David William Witmer served in the Other (1969â1974) before joining law enforcement.
Corporal David William Witmer is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In PA, 597 of 1,261 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 47.3% of this state's fallen. That is 6.9 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. David William Witmer's cause is highlighted.
How David William Witmer Compares
Offender Outcome
Deceased
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. David William Witmer is highlighted in Nov.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. David William Witmer was killed by rifle; .30-.06.