Bucks County District Attorney Matt Weintraub announced that the 21-year-old man who shot and killed two men who were attacking him in the parking lot of Steam Pub in Upper Southampton Township was justified in using deadly force.
Liam Hughes and a friend were returning to Hughes’ car on the night of Oct. 7 after leaving Steam Pub, 606 Second Street Pike, when a group of men gathered near his car confronted and attacked him. The three men pummeled Hughes during the attack, punching and striking him in the face and head and knocking him to the ground, where they continued the assault. Hughes attempted to get into his vehicle, but was being actively pulled out by one of the attackers.
Hughes had to reach behind with his right arm while being attacked and was able to get his hand on his weapon that was between the driver’s seat and the center console. He warned the assailants that he had a weapon and told them to stop. The men continued the attack, and Hughes opened fire, killing two of his assailants and injuring a third man.
Immediately after the shooting, Hughes called 911, telling dispatchers he shot at a group of men who attacked him in the parking lot of Steam Pub. Bucks County 911 received numerous other calls reporting the shooting. Upper Southampton Township Police Department and EMS arrived at the scene and found two deceased males in the parking lot.
Those men were later identified as Steven Panebianco, 30, of Bensalem, and Raymond Farrell, 28, of Philadelphia. While on scene, police received information that a third man — Richard Bowman, 24, of Philadelphia — sustained a gunshot wound and was treated at a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
After calling 911, Hughes remained on the scene until police arrived and cooperated fully with the investigation, including giving a video and audio recorded interview, allowing police to review his cellphone, and consenting to gunshot residue testing, photographing, having his clothing collected, providing a blood sample and releasing his medical records. The medical records showed that Hughes’ injuries included acute post-traumatic headache, a concussion, left ear contusion, a split lip, bloody nose, and bruises and scrapes to his left inner ear, forehead, head and scalp. Doctors found dried blood in his left ear canal upon examination. He also suffered blurry vision, sensitivity to light and nausea.
Detectives with the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office and the Upper Southampton Township Police Department conducted a comprehensive investigation that included processing the scene and recovering and accounting for all shell casings and rounds, interviewing with those involved and witnesses, reviewing surveillance footage from inside and outside Steam Pub, examining cellphones, searching vehicles, and collecting and reviewing 911 calls.
Weintraub announced that the investigation concluded that the use of deadly force by Hughes was justified as the circumstances were such that he reasonably believed deadly force was necessary to protect himself against death or serious bodily injury and because the circumstances were such that he was unable to safely retreat. Further, there was a presumed reasonable belief of need for deadly force because he was forcefully being removed from his vehicle.
The investigation also found that Hughes, an Army reservist for the past three and a half years, held a valid concealed weapons permit and legally purchased the firearm himself. At 5-foot-6 and 140 pounds, Hughes was also considerably smaller than his assailants.
Weintraub met with Panebianco’s family to explain his decision. He attempted to do the same with the Farrell family, but they declined to meet at this time.
During a news conference to announce the findings of the investigation, Weintraub played surveillance footage that captured the assault and shooting, and the 911 call that Hughes placed after the shooting. In the video, Panebianco, Farrell and a third man, Michael Michell, can be seen repeatedly punching Hughes. Panebianco throws the first punch that started the attack, and then also punches Hughes’ friend, Luis Rodriguez, five times in the head and face. Rodriguez fled to get help as the three men continued the attack.
Additionally, Weintraub announced that Michell, 24, of Philadelphia, would be charged with simple assault, a misdemeanor of the second degree, for his role in the attack. Michell punched the victim at least four times in the head during the attack, the investigation found. Bowman was not charged.
This case was investigated by Bucks County Detectives Phil Kulan and Tim Campbell and Upper Southampton Police Detective Jim Schirmer. Deputy District Attorney Sarah K. Heimbach is assigned to the investigation and prosecution.
