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A Cumberland County attorney, Richard Lee King Jr., is facing suspension following a murder charge. The Supreme Court's Disciplinary Board has imposed a temporary suspension on King, effective next month. King is accused of fatally shooting 35-year-old Zachary Gula in Mechanicsburg last July, marking the first homicide in the borough in two decades.
The incident occurred on Sunday, July 13, 2025, outside King's home on East Marble Street. According to MSN, a neighbor discovered Gula lying face-down in the grass and called 911. When officers arrived, they found King sitting beside Gula's body. King admitted to shooting Gula and directed police to a handgun inside his house.
The investigation revealed a blood trail from the living room to where Gula collapsed outside. King claimed he was attacked, but officers noted he had no visible injuries. King, a Carlisle-based attorney, was charged with felony criminal homicide. Due to his courthouse connections, the case was referred to the Pennsylvania Attorney General's office to avoid conflicts of interest.
King was denied bail and remains in Cumberland County Prison. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, July 23, 2025, before Judge Thomas Jordan. The case has drawn significant attention, with PennLive reporting that a friend of Gula's heard an argument through the phone shortly before the shooting.
The suspension of King from practicing law reflects the gravity of the charges against him. The legal proceedings are ongoing, and the outcome remains to be seen.