With seven out of the eight murders for the month of June being Black and all 30 years old and under, enough is enough. And it’s us killing us. Now, one cannot even attend a birthday party without worrying about getting shot. It is time for action. It’s time to stop talking about it. The vigils, marches and peace talks are fine, but there is a need for us to do more. It’s time to use all the plans and ideas that have been created and put them into action. We cannot afford to lose another person.
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As part of an ongoing effort to heighten awareness about the effects of murder in the Black community, the New Pittsburgh Courier will compile a list of homicides in the county each month. It is our hope that as the list of victims grows, so will a true understanding of how these lost lives affect the mental health, economic well-being and self-images of the region’s Black neighborhoods.
Out of the 38 murders, thus far, in 2010, 26 were Black and 23 were Black men.
June Homicides (8)
JUNE 3—Lamar Williams, a 24-year-old Black male from Pittsburgh, was fatally shot in the chest and arm in the parking lot of Roadrunner’s bar on Maytide Street in Overbrook while in his vehicle. After being hit, he pressed on the gas pedal, went down Overbrook Boulevard and ran into the garage door of a home on Olivet Avenue and Overbrook Street. No one has been charged. The investigation is ongoing.
JUNE 15—Tre Madden, a 17-year-old Black male from McKeesport, was fatally shot, along with two others, while at a birthday party in an apartment in Crawford Village on Nessley Avenue. Two Black males reportedly entered the apartment with handguns, demanding cash. After being shot, Madden was taken to UPMC McKeesport Hospital, where he later died. Isaiah Hereford and Dean Anthony Kirk have been arrested and charged with homicide, robbery, burglary, aggravated assault and conspiracy in connection. They are awaiting trial.
JUNE 15—Jahard Poindexter, a 30-year-old Black male from McKeesport, was fatally shot while exiting a Crawford Village apartment on Nessley Avenue in McKeesport, when two men entered the apartment during a birthday party, demanding cash. He died in the street. Isaiah Hereford and Dean Anthony Kirk face several charges and are currently awaiting trial.
JUNE 15—Angela Sanders, a 23-year-old Black female from Wilkinsburg, was killed while attending a birthday party at the Crawford Village apartments in McKeesport. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Isaiah Hereford and Dean Anthony Kirk face several charges and are currently awaiting trial.
JUNE 16—Randy Flowers, a 25-year-old Black male from McKeesport, was found dead on a sidewalk in the 200 block of South Fifth Street in Duquesne after an alleged carjacking where he and another male were reportedly chased by several men firing shots at them. He was hit and died at the scene. No one has been charged. The investigation is ongoing.
JUNE 16—Edward Baur, a 32-year-old White male from Sharpsburg, was found shot multiple times when he drove down Mellon Street in Highland Park, with his 6-year-old son, when he stopped officers to report that he had been shot in the right shoulder and torso. He was taken to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital, where he later died. His son was unharmed and no motive has been determined. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing.
JUNE 17—James Johnson, a 30-year-old Black male from Wilkinsburg, was fatally shot when a man approached a crowd of people who had gathered at a Ross Street home in Wilkinsburg. The shooter fired shots into the crowd and then fled the scene. He also hit a baby. Tariq Taliaferro has been charged with homicide, aggravated assault, reckless endangerment and gun charges. He is awaiting trial.
JUNE 19—Calvin Neal Jr., a 30-year-old Black male from Homewood, was found shot to death with gunshot wounds to the face in the front seat of a vehicle parked on Ozan Street in Penn Hills. He was pronounced dead at the scene. No one has been charged with the homicide. The investigation is ongoing.
JANUARY HOMICIDES (6)
JAN. 1—Lillainya Rachko, a 29-year-old White female from Beechview, was found beaten to death with an aluminum bat in the basement of an Orangewood Street home in Beechview. She allegedly was beaten by her boyfriend, William Murray, who later committed suicide.
JAN. 6—Uniquea Hines, a 23-year-old Black female from Clairton, was stabbed to death in the neck in her Clairton home on Baatan Drive in Century Town Homes. Police arrested and charged Herbert Benson, the father of her two children. He allegedly entered her home, went to her room and assaulted her and another male. He left the room and returned with a knife and then stabbed her. Her children were home and saw the incident. She ran to a neighbor’s home, where she collapsed and died. Benson has been charged with homicide, burglary, assault, child endangerment and resisting arrest.
JAN. 15—Marcel King, a 40-year-old Black male from Pittsburgh, was found stabbed in the chest and laying face down in the courtyard of the 2100 block of Elmore Square in the Hill District. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Tyrone Taylor has been charged with criminal homicide. He and King allegedly had an argument.
JAN. 20—Adelani Bajomo, a 50-year-old Black male from Stowe Township, was found dead with a gunshot to the chest on Belleau Street on the North Side. He was allegedly killed while driving a passenger in his jitney. He died at the scene.
JAN. 24—Arnaldo Scalfari, a 65-year-old White male from McKeesport, was found shot to death in his corner store, Aldo’s, at Jenny Lind and Packer streets in McKeesport. It appears to have been a robbery. No one has been charged with the homicide. The investigation is ongoing.
JAN. 31—Omar Battle, a 27-year-old Black male from Pittsburgh, was fatally shot in the back outside AutoZone in the 200 block of Penn Avenue in Wilkinsburg Jan. 29. He was taken to a local hospital, where he died two days later. No one has been charged with the homicide, the investigation is ongoing.
February Homicides (8)
FEB. 7—Decarlos Lewis, a 2-month-old White male from North Versailles, was found unresponsive by authorities in his Hyer Avenue apartment in North Versailles when they responded to an emergency call made by his father. He had been in the care of his father. Michael Lewis, the child’s father, has been arrested and charged with homicide, endangering the welfare of a child and resisting arrest. He is currently awaiting trial.
FEB. 13—William Ford, a 31-year-old Black male from Penn Hills, was found dead with multiple gunshots to his torso in the 7200 block of Frankstown Avenue in Homewood. No one has been charged with the homicide. The investigation is ongoing.
FEB. 14—Devin Dastion, a 21-year-old Black male from the North Side, was found fatally shot with multiple gunshot wounds in the 2300 block of Holyoke Street on the North Side. He was taken to Allegheny General Hospital, where he later died. No one has been charged with the homicide. The investigation is ongoing.
FEB. 17—Lisa Sipper, a 46-year-old White female from Penn Hills, was found shot to death in the garage of her home in the 100 block of Glenfield Drive in Penn Hills. She was reportedly shot by her husband, William Sipper, who later killed himself. The incident has been ruled a murder-suicide.
FEB. 17—Ryan Davis, a 20-year-old Black male of Lawrencevill
e, was fatally shot in the chest by a Pittsburgh police officer after he resisted arrest and attacked the officer when she tried to arrest him at East Liberty Boulevard because he matched the description of a robber. Officer Janine Triolo allegedly ordered Davis to put his hands against the wall, he complied and when she went to handcuff him, he turned around punched her in the face, pummeled her, held a gun to her head and tried to take her service weapon. After she regained control of her weapon she fired two shots, one hitting Davis. Triolo has been placed on administrative leave with pay, which is standard procedure, while the incident is being investigated.
FEB. 22—Daton Boyd, a 22-year-old Black male from Pittsburgh, was found fatally shot in the 2100 block of Elmore Square of the Hill District by officers responding to a call. He was taken to UPMC Mercy Hospital where he later died. No one has been charged with the homicide. The investigation is ongoing.
FEB. 25—Sean Murphy, a 40-year-old Black male from Penn Hills, was fatally shot while waiting at a traffic light at the intersection of Paulowna Street and Bigelow Boulevard in Polish Hill. An unknown person came up to his vehicle and shot Murphy, causing him to press the gas pedal and run into a vehicle, which caused a chain reaction incident with four vehicles. He was taken to UPMC Presbyterian, where he later died. No one has been charged with the homicide, the investigation is ongoing.
FEB. 27—Davon Williams, a 25-year-old Black male from Arlington, was found dead behind a vacant home on Hays Avenue in Mt. Oliver. He reportedly had been shot earlier in the week and ran behind a home. His body had been covered in snow. Authorities have not charged anyone, but have obtained a warrant for a suspect. The investigation is ongoing.
March Homicides (7)
MARCH 7—Mara Knox, a 41-year-old Black female from Windgap, was found fatally stabbed with multiple wounds to the abdomen in her home in the 3800 block of Haven Street. She was taken to Allegheny General Hospital, where she later died. Authorities have arrested her husband Anthony Knox. He allegedly stabbed her, went after their children and then stabbed himself. He has been charged with homicide, two counts of attempted homicide and aggravated assault.
MARCH 14—Mark Barry, a 55-year-old Black male from Marshall-Shadeland, was found dead and guarded by his dog with a gunshot wound to the chest in the 2700 block of Mullins Street in Marshall-Shadeland. He was allegedly walking his dog when he was approached by two teens who intended to rob him. Police have charged Cordell Brown and Tyrone Thomas with homicide, conspiracy, robbery and carrying a firearm without a license.
MARCH 15—Lee Schwartz, a 43-year-old White male from Squirrel Hill, was found dead from a gunshot wound to the head and found on a hillside in the 100 block of Hazlett Street in the North Side. No one has been charged with the homicide.
MARCH 20—Josef Moore, a 21-year-old Black male from North Braddock, was found fatally shot in the head in the 500 block of Margaret Way in North Braddock. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities have charged Sean Robinson with homicide and a firearms violation.
MARCH 24—Taushad Thompson, a 2-year-old Black male from the Hill District, was found with head injuries at a home on North Fourth Street in Clairton when police answered a call. He was taken to Children’s Hospital of UPMC, where he later died of blunt force trauma. Authorities charged Eric L. Johnson with criminal homicide and endangering the welfare of a child. He had been watching Thompson.
MARCH 24—Melvin Johnson, a 20-year-old Black male from Sheraden, was found shot in the head by police when they responded to a call of someone shot at 1008 Chartiers Ave. He was pronounced dead at the scene. He was allegedly shot when he and another male tried to rob an apartment. No arrests have been made.
MARCH 27—Shirl Esseny, a 60-year-old White female from Pittsburgh, was found fatally shot in the lower abdomen in the 6800 block of Frankstown Avenue in Homewood. She was taken to UPMC Presbyterian, where she later died. She had been coming home from the Homewood Branch of the Carnegie Library when she was hit. She was not the intended target. Authorities have arrested Anthony Thomas, 15, and charged him with homicide, possession of a weapon by a minor and carrying a firearm without a license. They also later charged Robert Brown, 16, with the same charges plus criminal conspiracy. Her name has also been reported as Cheryl Esseny.
APRIL Homicides (5)
APRIL 2—Walter Wetzel, a 61-year-old White male from Pittsburgh, died at UPMC Mercy Hospital of complications from an injury he sustained Nov. 28 at the Duquesne Heights BP gas station at 910 Saw Mill Run Blvd. when he tried to stop a robber. After a clerk was confronted by a robber and when he fled, Wetzel, the station’s night manager, went after the man and was hit with the getaway car, fell off the hood, got caught underneath and was dragged. Authorities arrested Frank Pekular and have charged him with homicide and other charges. He is awaiting trial.
APRIL 3—Dennis Farley, a 51-year-old White male from Castle Shannon, was beaten to death at a homeless camp behind a South Side shopping plaza in the 2000 block of Wharton Street. He suffered severe injuries to his head, ribs and organs. Authorities arrested Richard Kelly, who allegedly beat Farley after he refused Kelly’s sexual advances. He has been charged with homicide and is awaiting trial.
APRIL 8—Antoine Sturdivant, a 30-year-old Black male from the North Side, was punched and fatally shot after leaving a Homewood after hours club. He was in the middle of breaking up a fight between two groups of girls, when he was attacked by two men he had a dispute with earlier. Sturdivant was taken to UPMC Presbyterian, where he later died. No arrests have been made and the investigation is ongoing.
APRIL 23—Jeanette Abrams, a 44-year-old White female from South Fayette, was beaten, stabbed and burned to death in her home at 110 Locust Lane in South Fayette after an altercation with her husband. Authorities arrested Robert Dennis Abrams, her husband, after he allegedly hit his wife with a hammer, stabbed her and then set their home on fire. He is charged with homicide, arson and abuse of a corpse and is awaiting trial.
APRIL 25—James Hoover, a 31-year-old White male from Lincoln, was shot to death after he and others got into a dispute at the Son’s of Italy Social Club at 101 Sixth St. in Glassport. He and his brother were shot and he died at the scene. Authorities arrested and charged Garrett Raymond Sainiak with homicide, aggravated assault and firearms violations. He is awaiting trial.
May Homicides (4)
MAY 4—Charles Kenney, a 27-year-old Black male from Duquesne, was fatally shot in the back of the head while he was standing on the front porch of a home on St. Ives Street in the North Side. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities arrested and charged Jermaine Smith, 17, with criminal homicide and carrying a firearm without a license. He is currently awaiting trial.
MAY 8—Michael Garnett Jr., a 19-year-old Black male from East Liberty, was shot in the chest while sitting inside the living room of a home in the 500 block of North Murtland Avenue in Homewood. He had been sitting there when a gunman walked up onto the porch, opened the door, reached in and fired several shots, hitting Garnett. He was taken to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital where he later died. Authorities arrested and charged Virgil Williams with homicide, attempted homicide and reckless endangerment. He is currently awaiting trial.
MAY 16—Derron Milton, a 22-year-old Black male from Braddock, was found lying in the street in the 300 block of Walnut Street in West Homestead with a fatal gunshot in the chest. He was taken to UPMC Mercy Hospital, where he later died. No one has been charged with the homicide. The investigatio
n is ongoing.
MAY 30—Andre Alexander, a 19-year-old Black male of Wilkinsburg, was fatally shot in the abdomen at the intersection of Negley Avenue and Rippy Street in East Liberty. After an altercation with a female, she made a call and after things got out of hand, Alexander was shot. He was taken to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital, where he later died. Lashanet Thomas and Lamont White have been charged with Alexander’s death. Thomas is charged with homicide, conspiracy to commit homicide, solicitation to kill and separate counts of conspiracy and solicitation to commit aggravated assault. White has been charged with homicide, conspiracy and carrying a firearm without a license. They are currently awaiting trial.
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