Erie, Pennsylvania – Shannon D. Goodwin, 23, has entered a plea of guilty to third-degree murder in the fatal shooting of Steve Smith III at the Metroplex nightclub in Erie. He has also admitted to shooting his uncle in the wrist during the same incident, which took place on December 30, 2022.
The deadly episode occurred during a private birthday party for Goodwin’s mother, which ended in tragedy when a fight broke out and escalated into a fatal shooting. Goodwin was reportedly upset about the fighting and threw a chair, which hit Smith, leading to a confrontation. It was during this altercation that Goodwin fired, hitting both his uncle in the wrist and fatally shooting Smith.
As part of the plea deal, Goodwin will avoid a mandatory life sentence if he had been convicted of first-degree murder. However, he still faces as many as 67 years in state prison at his sentencing on April 23 before Judge John J. Mead, who accepted his plea.
The guilty plea to third-degree murder, along with charges of aggravated assault and carrying a firearm without a license, could result in a maximum sentence of 67 years for Goodwin. The plea deal did not include a sentencing recommendation, and the prosecution dropped several charges as part of the agreement.
Goodwin’s attorney stated that his client’s license to carry the handgun used in the shooting had lapsed, and Goodwin was unaware that it needed to be renewed. The sentencing hearing will provide an opportunity for Goodwin, his attorney, and the assistant district attorney to address the court. Relatives and friends of both Goodwin and Smith are also expected to speak at the sentencing.
The tragic shooting, which resulted from a fight over the sale of a broken PlayStation video game console, left one man dead and another injured. The evidence showed that Goodwin was aiming at Smith when he fired, and the shooting occurred outside the view of surveillance cameras, although events leading up to the shooting were captured.
In summary, the guilty plea by Goodwin has spared him from a possible life sentence but still leaves him facing a significant amount of time in state prison for the deadly shooting at the Metroplex nightclub.