With a total of 93 homicides so far and only one month left in the year, there have already been more homicides than the total number in 2009. Last year the total number of homicides were 87, 62 of them were Black and 55 were Black men.
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While the numbers on the list are increasing, so are the anti-violence efforts. There are the meetings, the forums and the marches. One cannot help to notice the various organizations conducting these events to help make a difference. And while they are to be commended for doing something, why not try something a little different. Instead of five different groups holding something, how about those five groups come together and hold one big event.
While covering the issue of violence and what is being done by organizations, the same feedback is given, very few groups are working together. For the last few months there have been various challenges by the Courier, this is no different. For 2011, we issue a challenge to the various non-profit organizations and community groups working to end the senseless violence in our communities. We challenge them to join with at least one other group within their neighborhood, instead of working by themselves, to tackle this issue. Reach out to a neighbor to join forces with you.
If we all have the same goal (saving our communities and the young people within them), wouldn’t more be accomplished if we all did it together? It is like the old cliché “United we stand, divided we fall.” We’ve tried it by ourselves, now let’s try it together.
As part of an ongoing effort to heighten awareness about the effects of murder in Black communities, 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 effect the mental health, economic well-being and self-images of the region’s Black neighborhoods.
Out of the 93 murders, thus far, in 2010—70 Black and 61 were Black men.
November Homicides (10)
NOV. 1—David Asque, a 40-year-old Black male from Bridgeville, was stabbed in the chest during an argument at 334 Brownsville Road in Knoxville. He was taken to UPMC Mercy, where he died. Gerald Hughes has been charged with criminal homicide and intimidation of witnesses. He is currently awaiting trial.
NOV. 2—Delfonte Ellis, a 43-year-old Black male from the Hill District, was found lying in the street with a gunshot to the head in the 800 block of Shawnee Street in the Upper Hill District. He was pronounced dead at the scene. No one has been charged with the incident; the investigation is ongoing.
NOV. 13—William Clark, a 39-year-old Black male from Wilkinsburg, was fatally shot in the head and torso after leaving a bar outside of 7310 Frankstown Avenue in Homewood. Thaddeus Crumbley was charged with criminal homicide, carrying a firearm without a license and persons not to posses a firearm.
NOV. 13—Audra Cobb, a 40-year-old Black female from Homewood, was found fatally stabbed by paramedics when they responded to a call at 909 Washington Boulevard in Homewood. She was taken to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital, where she later died. Nancee Mosley has been charged with criminal homicide.
NOV. 13—Duerryl Whitaker, a 25-year-old Black male from Mt. Oliver, was found with a gunshot wound to the face inside an apartment at 958 Woodlow Street in Crafton Heights during an apparent robbery. Whitaker died at the scene. When authorities arrived at the scene they observed two men fleeing from the scene. One was caught and found with a gunshot wound to the leg and taken to a local hospital. Bradley Smith and Abraham Mitchell have been charged with homicide, robbery, criminal conspiracy and carrying a firearm without a license. Mitchell is still at large.
NOV. 14—Justin Hill, a 31-year-old Black male from Homewood, died from a gunshot wound to the head and left arm that he sustained on Nov. 10 while sitting in a vehicle on Race Street in Homewood. He was taken to UPMC Presbyterian, where he died days later. No one has been charged with the incident; the investigation is ongoing.
NOV. 14—David Spahr, a 51-year-old White male from Elizabeth, was found shot to death in an alley near the 2300 block of Manor Avenue in Swissvale by authorities who answered a 911 call. There may have been some alleged drug activity. Hashim Rashad has been charged with criminal homicide and tampering with evidence. He is currently awaiting trial.
NOV. 19—Robert James, a 23-year-old Black male from Pittsburgh, was fatally shot multiple times at the Shamrock Bar at 917 Western Avenue on the North Side. He died at the scene. No one has been charged with the incident; the investigation is ongoing.
NOV. 21—Jonathan Kirkland, a 25-year-old Black male from McKeesport, was found shot to death in his home at 3203 Brownlee Avenue in McKeesport by relatives who had come to visit him. Kirkland was wheelchair bound due to a shooting in 2002. No one has been charged for the incident; the investigation is ongoing.
NOV. 27—Keith Wood, a 22-year-old Black male from Pittsburgh, was found dead and lying inside the front doorway of a home at 208 Rochelle Street in Knoxville, with gunshot wounds to the head and upper neck. Wood was pronounced dead at the scene. This is the third time this location has been involved in violent acts. No one has been charged with the incident; 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 20
0 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 Lawrenceville, 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, arso
n 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 investigation 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.
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. Tarel Dixon has been charged with the homicide and is currently awaiting trial.
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.
July Homicides 13
JULY 5—Anthony Griffin, a 32-year-old Black male from Hazelwood, was found fatally shot to death on the front steps of a home on Monongahela Street in Hazelwood. He had gunshot wounds to the head and torso. He was pronounced dead at the scene. No one has been charged with the homicide. The investigation is ongoing.
JULY 6—Eliseo Palma, a 28-year-old Hispanic from Brookline died of blunt force trauma due to injuries he sustained June 23 after a fight broke out on Brookline Avenue. An individual fell into Palma causing him to strike his head on the sidewalk. Then Noe Alejandro Garcia-DelValle reportedly beat him severely and Palma was taken to UPMC Mercy. Garcia-DelValle has been charged with aggravated assault, attempted criminal homicide and possibly homicide, since Palma died.
JULY 7—Ben Lewis, a 44-year-old- White male from Sheraden, was found by authorities fatally shot to death with gunshot wounds to the chest at his home at 3126 Sacramento St. Neighbors had reported a burglary in progress. The room showed signs of a burglary and Lewis’ vehicle was been found several blocks away from his home. No one has been charged with the homicide. The investigation is ongoing.
JULY 8—Jermaine Palmer Jr., a 19-year-old Black male from Homewood, was fatally shot in the chest and then driven to a fire station on Hamilton Avenue in Homewood. He and another male were driving when unknown individuals opened fire on their vehicle. Palmer was taken to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital where he later died. No one has been charged. The investigation is ongoing.
JULY 11—Arika Hainesworth, a 24-year-old Black female from East Hills was fatally shot and killed when three men entered her East End home reportedly demanding drugs and money. She died during a shootout between the suspects and police. After tests, it was proven that Hainesworth was not shot by an officer. Tyree Gaines was the first person charged. He faces charges of homicide, aggravated assault, robbery and conspiracy. Amir Ferguson has also been charged and is facing homicide, robbery and conspiracy charges. They are currently awaiting trial.
JULY 14—Lauren Deis, a 14-year-old White female from East Liberty was found stabbed multiple times and wrapped in garbage bags outside of Langley High School in Sheraden. She had reportedly met Tushon Brown and after a dispute over money, he allegedly stabbed her. Brown is charged with homicide.JULY 19
—Allen Johnson, a 73-year-old Black male from Pittsburgh, died after an altercation with another man at a Wendy’s Restaurant on Liberty Avenue, Downtown. Johnson was pushed face first into a wall. He was taken to UPMC Mercy Hospital, where he died nine days later due to complications from the incident. Garry Ethridge has been charged with homicide and is currently awaiting trial.
JULY 18—LaJuane Pendelton, a 30-year-old Black male from the North Side, was found fatally shot and killed in an SUV in the 5300 block of Cornwall Street during the afternoon. He had been driving through a Garfield public housing community. He had been shot in the head. No one has been charged. The investigation is ongoing.
JULY 19—Daniel Hawkins, a 17-year-old Black male from East Liberty was fatally shot when he and another male attempted to commit a robbery. The two reportedly came from between two homes on North St. Clair and Hays streets and approached a vehicle to rob it. Gunfire was exchanged and Hawkins was shot in the head and pronounced dead at the scene. No one has been charged.
JULY 19—Deiontre Dean, a 17-year-old Black male from East Liberty was found dead when he and another male attempted to rob a vehicle. The two males came from between two homes, approached the vehicle and tried to rob it. Gunfire was exchanged and Dean was hit in the torso. He ran to the 5600 block of Hays Street where he collapsed and died. No one has been charged.
JULY 20—Shawn Houser, a 34-year-old Black male from Erie was fatally shot while sitting in an SUV with his half-brother at a traffic light on Graham Boulevard. After leaving a bar on Verona Road, the two were sitting at the light when a vehicle approached the SUV and opened gunfire. Houser was hit. He exited the vehicle and collapsed. He was taken to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital where he later died. No one has been charged. The investigation is ongoing.
JULY 20—Jaison Houser, a 27-year-old Black male from Penn Hills was found shot to death in an SUV on Graham Boulevard. He and his half-brother Shawn had just left a bar on Verona Road and had been sitting at a traffic light when a vehicle approached their SUV and opened gunfire. He was pronounced dead at the scene. No one has been charged. The investigation is ongoing.
JULY 25—James Short, a 35-year-old Black male from West Mifflin was fatally shot in the back by an assault rifle at the intersection of North Braddock Avenue and Formosa Way in Homewood. He had been riding with his girlfriend and her two children when he was shot. She then drove to the 7600 block of Bennett Street to get help; he was taken to the hospital where he later died. He reportedly was not the intended target. Jamel Palmer has been charged with criminal homicide, three counts of aggravated assault, three counts of recklessly endangering another person and felony weapons violations. He is currently awaiting trial.
AUGUST HOMICIDES (12)
AUG. 8—Andrenea Trowery, a 21 year-old Black female from West Oakland, was shot in the head in her apartment at 2025 Deraud St. in West Oakland. She was taken to UPMC Mercy Hospital, where she later died. Harry Green has been charged with criminal homicide and carrying a firearm without a license. He is currently awaiting trial.
AUG. 10—Larry Wheat, a 29-year-old Black male from the Hill District, was fatally shot multiple times in the chest in the courtyard of Elmore Square in the Hill District. He was taken to UPMC Mercy Hospital, where he later died of gunshot wounds to the trunk. No one has been charged with the homicide. The investigation is ongoing.
AUG. 12—Glenard Bryant, a 20-year-old Black male from Wilkinsburg, was shot multiple times in the 600 Block of Ecker Way in Wilkinsburg. He was shot but was able to bang on the door of his home where he named the shooter while he waited for help. He was taken to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital where he died hours later. Warren Irvin, a childhood friend, has been charged with criminal homicide and is currently awaiting trial.
AUG. 15—Ray Deese, a 28-year-old White male from Bellevue, was fatally stabbed to death inside an apartment in the 400 Block of Jefferson Avenue in Bellevue. He was taken to Allegheny General, where he later died. No one has been charged. The investigation is ongoing.
AUG. 16—Tywaun Johnson, a 20-year-old Black male from the North Side, was shot in the chest in the 2500 Block of Chauncey Drive in the Hill District. He was taken to UPMC Mercy Hospital where he later died. No one has been charged. The investigation is ongoing.
AUG. 18—Victor Borrero, a 55-year-old Hispanic male from Avalon, was found laying on a sidewalk on East Ohio Street on Aug. 8. He had been severely beaten. He was taken to Allegheny General Hospital, where he died 10 days later. A warrant has been issued for the arrest of John Harris and Robert Coates. The suspects allegedly lured him into a stairwell, robbed him and beat him. Harris has been arrested and charged with criminal homicide, robbery and criminal conspiracy, Coates is still at large.
AUG. 22—Charles Gibson, a 24-year-old Black male from McKeesport, was found shot in the head and lying in front of 5 Seward St. in Duquesne. He was taken to Allegheny General Hospital, where he died two days later. Omar Bradley has been charged with homicide and violation of firearms. He is currently awaiting trial.
AUG. 26—Vincent Barnes, a 41-year-old White male from the North Side, was fatally shot by a Hampton police officer during an exchange of gunfire. Earlier in the evening Barnes had gotten into an incident at Bellisario’s Restaurant, where he fired his gun at another patron. He missed and left the restaurant. Police searched for him and later found him in a wooded area near Mt. Royal Boulevard. He drew his weapon and began shooting. He was hit during the exchange. The officer has been placed on administrative leave while the incident is investigated, which is protocol.
AUG. 28—Robert James, a 51-year-old Black male from Wilkinsburg, was found shot in the head and torso in the 7100 Block of Upland Street in Homewood in the driver’s seat of a vehicle that had crashed into several parked cars, after an alleged exchange of gunfire with another vehicle. He was taken to UPMC Presbyterian, where he died the next day. No one has been charged with the incident. The investigation is ongoing.
AUG. 29—Gabriel Turner, a 26-year-old Black male from Sheraden, was found gunned down in an apartment building at 612 Hillsboro St. in Sheraden. He was taken to Allegheny General Hospital, where he later died. No one was charged. The investigation is ongoing.
AUG. 29—Frederick Goodwin, a 20-year-old Black male from McKeesport, was shot but drove himself to a gas station for help. He was taken to UPMC Mercy Hospital where he later died. No one has been charged. The investigation is ongoing.
AUG. 31—Edward Zevola, a 61-year-old White male from Baldwin, was shot and killed by a Baldwin Borough police officer after they arrived at his Songo Street home in response to a domestic dispute call. Zevola, who was armed, threatened to shoot an officer and refused to put his gun down. He was shot by one of the officers and pronounced dead at the scene. The officer is on administrative leave, while the incident is being investigated, which is protocol.