47 of 60 homicides Black lives

Out of the 60 murders in 2011, 45 were Black and 40 were Black men.

While the month of September may have had one of the highest number of deaths, it also had the lowest number of Black homicides, month to date, where only three of the seven were Black. All were under 40 years old and two were under 30. But three is still too many.

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Although the homicides were down, the shootings were still out of hand. Especially when, several of them occurred during daylight hours, when children could have been coming home from school or playing outside.

What is it going to take for us, as a community, to be truly enraged and to stand up and take serious action against those making our streets unsafe? And to take them back. If there were issues of racism, discrimination or unfair practices then we would take to the streets and march until something was done. Why aren’t we doing the same thing now? People are unfairly being made to bury our young men and women over nonsense and we are unfairly being made prisoners in our home, because when one steps outside, it could be their last step. Enough has got to be enough. How can we expect the violence to change, if we will not stand up and take the necessary actions to change it?

SEPTEMBER HOMICIDES (7)

SEPT. 7—Michael Weismantle, a 26-year-old White male from the North Side, was fatally stabbed in the torso at a residence in the 900 Block of Kirkbride Street on the North Side. He had been driven to the police station and then taken to Allegheny General Hospital, where he died. He had reportedly been accompanying a female to retrieve some items when a dispute broke out with two other males. Another person trying to break up the fight was also stabbed. Alex and Bryan Osborne are charged with criminal homicides and criminal conspiracy. Bryan Osborne is also charged with aggravated assault and possession of instruments of crime. They are currently awaiting trial.

SEPT. 9—Timothy Harris Jr., an 18-year-old Black male from Pittsburgh, was fatally shot multiple times and died in a building at 1611 Sandusky Court in Fineview on the North Side. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing.

SEPT. 8—Carol Yeckel, a 74-year-old White female from West Deer Township, was found shot to death, along with her husband, inside their home in the 100 block of W. Starz Road, in West Deer Township. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing.

SEPT. 8—James Yeckel, a 74-year-old White male from West Deer Township, was found shot to death, along with his wife, inside their home in the 100 block of W. Starz Road, in West Deer Township. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing.

SEPT. 12—Devien Wheeler, a 20-year-old White male from Hazelwood, was found dead with a gunshot wound to the head at 205 W. Elizabeth St., in Hazelwood, when authorities arrived after a call for shots being fired. He was pronounced dead at the scene. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing.

SEPT. 26—Phillip Harrison, a 26-year-old Black male from the Hill District, was fatally shot in the face and back near the intersection of Chauncey Drive and Bedford Avenue in the Hill District in the middle of the day. Harrison was taken to UPMC Mercy Hospital, where he later died. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing.

SEPT. 27—Dwayne Threet, a 36-year-old Black male from the Hill District, was found with multiple gunshot wounds in the 400 block of Wylie Avenue near Chauncey Street in the Hill District. He was taken to UPMC Mercy Hospital, where he later died. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing.

January Homicides (7)

JAN. 1—Tauvea Hurt, a 20-year-old Black male from Clairton, was fatally shot in the abdomen when two men entered the residence at 2305 Lincoln Ave. in Clairton, where he was attending a New Year’s Eve party. He was taken to Jefferson Regional Medical Center, where he later died. Keith and Lindsey Wright have been charged with homicide, conspiracy and burglary. They allegedly had an ongoing feud with Hurt over another incident. They are currently awaiting trial.

JAN. 2—Larry James-Watson, a 19-year-old Black male from McKees Rocks, was fatally shot in the chest in the 5400 block of Youngridge Drive during an apparent home invasion at the Leland Point Apartments in Baldwin. James-Watson allegedly approached the home, fired a shot through a window, hitting the owner and tried to enter through the window. The owner reportedly fired back hitting James-Watson. The owner is unlikely to face charges. The investigation is ongoing.

JAN. 15—James Redshaw, a 30-year-old White male from the North Side, was found fatally stabbed in the chest at a home on Lithgrow Street in the North Side. Redshaw was allegedly stabbed during a fight. He was taken to Allegheny General Hospital where he later died. Calvin Tucker has been charged with criminal homicide. He is currently awaiting trial.

JAN. 16—Ronald Washington, a 24-year-old Black male from Pittsburgh, was shot in the chest while sitting in a vehicle on Lombard Street in the Hill District. Two men had allegedly been seen standing outside the vehicle and then opening fire on the vehicle. The vehicle sped off and was driven to Mercy Hospital, where he later died. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing.

JAN. 23—Jorman Wright Jr., a 30-year-old Black male from Law­rence­ville, was shot in the head in the 6400 Block of Franks­town Avenue outside of a Sunoco A-Plus Gas Station in Larimer. He was pronounced dead at the scene. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing.

JAN. 25—Jabbar Fridia, a 27-year-old Black male from the North Side, was fatally shot multiple times in the torso as he was driving on Marsden Street in Hazelwood. He lost control, hit a home and the vehicle flipped over. Fridia was freed from the vehicle and taken to UPMC Mercy Hospital where he later died. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing.

JAN. 26—Steven MacKowski, a 38-year-old White male from Verona, was found shot to death in a parked car in the 200 block of Kansas Street in Penn Hills. He had allegedly been shot in Homewood and driven to Penn Hills. Samuel Rice has been charged with homicide, reckless endangerment and firearms violation. He is currently awaiting trial.

February ­Homicides (6)

FEB. 10—Devin Scott, a 19-year-old Black male from Mt. Oliver, was reportedly shot in the chest in the 300 block of East Warrington Avenue in Beltz­hoover. When authorities arrived a pedestrian had been performing CPR to Scott who was on the sidewalk. He was pronounced dead at the scene. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing.

FEB. 12—Dane Smith Jr., a 21-year-old Black male from the Hill District, was found shot multiple times, including one to the head, in the 2500 block of Centre Avenue in the Hill District after he had been chased from the 2300 block of Reed Street where the gunfire began. He was taken to UPMC Mercy, where he later died. Marcus Smith has been charged with criminal homicide. He is currently awaiting trial.

FEB. 13—Michael Kitonis, a 20-year-old White male from Duquesne, was found shot to death in the chest outside of 409 Hamilton Ave. in Duquesne during an alleged altercation where he pulled the gun out and was shot after both parties wrestled for it. James R. Miller Jr. has been charged with the death and is awaiting trial.

FEB. 13—William King, a 23-year-old Black male from Penn Hills, was found stabbed and dismembered on a hillside in Plum near Coxcomb Hill Road after he had been reported missing several days earlier. Vito Pelino has been charged with homicide, abuse of a corpse and kidnapping. He allegedly killed King for trying to have sex with his sister after a night of drinking at a Verona bar. He allegedly picked up King, stabbed him, took the body to his mother’s house and chopped it up. Corey Robert has also been charged with abuse of a corpse and conspiracy for helping to dispose of the body. They are currently awaiting trial.

FEB. 18—Waishard White, a 22-year-old Black male from Wilkinsburg, was found dead with a gunshot wound to the chest near the 7200 block of Stranahan Street in Homewood. Authorities believe he had been shot earlier in the week in the 7100 block of Everton Street where they have a report of shots fired and someone injured. D’Andre Black and Cornell Pointer have been charged with criminal homicide, aggravated assault, criminal conspiracy and criminal attempted homicide. They are currently awaiting trial. (D’ Andre Black is not the standout Schenley High School basketball and football star, with the same name.)

FEB. 23—Felecia Greene, a 26-year-old Black female from Oakland, was fatally stabbed during a domestic dispute with her mother at the mother’s residence in the 2000 block of DeRaud Street in the Hill District. Both parties had been injured and she was taken to UPMC Mercy Hospital, where she later died. The dispute was allegedly over the care of Greene’s son. Terrie Greene, her mother, has been charged with criminal homicide. She is currently awaiting a preliminary hearing.

FEB. 27—Brian Natali, a 29-year-old White male from Crafton, was fatally shot while riding in a car along Baldwick Road in East Carnegie, when a passenger’s gun in the backseat was discharged hitting Natali in the back. He was taken to UPMC Mercy Hospital, where he later died. After months of investigations it was ruled a homicide. It is unknown if charges were filed.

MARCH HOMICIDES (7)

MARCH 12—Edwin Britt, a 41-year-old Black male from Duquesne, was found dead with multiple gunshot wounds to the head and torso, outside of his home in the 400 block of William Street in Duquesne. No one has been charged with the homicide; the investigation is ongoing.

MARCH 13—William Perry, a 49-year-old Black male from McKeesport, was found dead in the doorway of his home in the 1700 block of Butler Street in McKeesport with two gunshot wounds in the head. A neighbor who was visiting another resident in the building found him. No one has been charged with the homicide; the investigation is ongoing.

MARCH 15—Charles Wooding, a 22-year-old Black male from Homewood, was found shot to death in the chest in the hallway of an apartment building on Milligan Avenue in Swissvale. No one has been charged with the homicide; the investigation is ongoing.

MARCH 17—LaKisha Robinson, a 29-year-old Black female from the North Side, was found lying on the ground with a gunshot wound to the chest and trunk after an individual fired shots into a crowd during an alleged fistfight between several women in the courtyard in the 200 block of East Ohio Street on the North Side. She was taken to Allegheny General Hospital, where she later died. A warrant has been issued for Jessie Lewis. He is expected to face charges of attempted homicide, reckless endangerment, aggravated assault and carrying a loaded weapon.

MARCH 22—Teesha Wil­liams, a 17-year-old Black female from Penn Hills, was found dead inside of her burning home on Azalea Drive in Penn Hills, with a gunshot wound in the head. She had been shot and set on fire when a blanket was ignited on top of her. She died of smoke and fume inhalation due to the fire. Akeem Page-Jones has been charged with homicide, arson, firearms violation, recklessly endangering another person and possibly robbery, theft and burglary. He is currently awaiting trial.

MARCH 23—Trent Colverson, a 21-year-old Black male from Home­wood, was found fatally shot multiple times in the torso on Hackett Way. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Domenique Lewis has been charged with homicide, robbery, two counts of criminal conspiracy and firearms violations.

MARCH 29—Lincoln LaRue, a 20-year-old Black male from Du­quesne, was found dead when authorities responded to a call of a man lying in the middle of Perry Street in the Hill District. He had a gunshot wound to the head. He reportedly had been shot when he was leaving a friend’s house. No one has been charged with the homicide; the investigation is ongoing.

APRIL HOMICIDES (6)

APRIL 5—Dante Bugg, a 21-year-old Black male from Wilkinsburg, was fatally shot in the abdomen on Clark Street in Wilkinsburg. He was one of three shot and was taken to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital, where he later died. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing.

APRIL 6—Stephon Green, a 19-year-old Black male from Arlington Heights, was found shot to death in the head and chest in La Place Street in the Hill District. He died at the scene. No one has been charged; the investigation is still ongoing.

APRIL 6—Cuddy Brisken, a 90-year-old White male from Squirrel Hill, was found dead in his home at 2827 Fernwald Rd. in Squirrel Hill. He had trauma to the head, which was covered with a bag. Jason Eric Kuhns was charged with criminal homicide, robbery, burglary and receiving stolen property. He is currently awaiting trial.

APRIL 7—William Means, a 43-year-old Black male from Duquesne, was shot in the stomach on Crawford Avenue in Duquesne, outside of the Sportsman Bar. He was taken to Allegheny General Hospital, where he later died. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing.

APRIL 23—Rashee Coleman, a 17-year-old Black male from Wilkinsburg, was shot in the head on a footpath in a wooded area near the 800 block of Memory Lane in the Hill District. He was pronounced dead at the scene. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing.

APRIL 27—Jaquay Lomax, a 19-year-old Black male from Duquesne, was fatally shot multiple times in the chest and back at a Duquesne playground near the Parkview Manor Apartment. He was taken to UPMC McKeesport, where he later died. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing.

MAY HOMICIDES (7)

MAY 8—Malachi Urbini, a 20-year-old White male from McKees Rocks, was fatally shot during a drug deal gone wrong near Third and Amelia Streets in McKees Rocks. He allegedly tried to exchange items for heroin. He was taken to Allegheny General Hospital, where he later died. Jaivon Cunningham and Shilee Dixson have both been charged with criminal homicide, robbery and conspiracy. Dixson was also charged with possession of a firearm by a minor. They are awaiting trial.

MAY 14—Robert Butler-Peterson, a 24-year-old Black male from the Hill District, was found dead with a gunshot wound in the back in the 2200 block of Bedford Avenue, in the Hill District, after an apparent drive-by shooting. He was pronounced dead at the scene. No one has been charged with the homicide; the investigation is ongoing.

MAY 16—Todd Mattox Jr., a 28-year-old Black male from Homewood, was shot to death outside the Leechburg Garden Apartments in Penn Hills. The vehicle he had been driving was reportedly taken from the scene and recovered in Wilkinsburg. No one has been charged with the homicide; the investigation is ongoing.

MAY 22—Marquis White, a 22-year-old Black male from Pittsburgh, was fatally stabbed in the chest in an apartment in the 400 block of Grove Street in the Hill District. He was taken to UPMC Mercy Hospital, where he later died. He was allegedly stabbed by a girlfriend during a domestic altercation. Ashley Wilson has been charged with homicide. She is awaiting trial.

MAY 22—Lynette Gasparre, a 38-year-old White female from Shaler, was found dead with a gunshot wound to the head inside her home at 404 Beulah St., in Shaler, along with her two children and live-in boyfriend. She was allegedly shot by her boyfriend Barry Hardesty, who later killed himself. It has been ruled a murder-suicide.

MAY 22—Quinn Gasparre, a 7-year-old White female from Shaler, was found shot in the head, along with her mother, sister and mother’s live-in boyfriend, at their home on Beulah Street, in Shaler. She was allegedly killed by Hardesty, her mother’s boyfriend. It was ruled a murder-suicide.

MAY 22—Nina Gasparre-Hardesty, a 1-year-old White female from Shaler, was found dead with a gunshot wound to the head, along with her mother, sister and father at her Beulah Street home in Shaler. She was shot by Barry Hardesty, her father, who later killed himself. It was ruled a murder-suicide.

JUNE HOMICIDES (5)

JUNE 6—Stanley Pierce, a 52-year-old Black man from East Liberty, was fatally stabbed on Dec. 3, 2010 at a residence in the 200 block of McCutcheon Lane, in Penn Hills, after an argument broke out between Pierce and a woman he was visiting. He was taken to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital, where he died six months after the incident from complications due to his injuries. Linda Grimes was charged with aggravated assault, but since Pierce died, she has now been charged with homicide. She is awaiting trial.

JUNE 8—Andrew Smith, a 20-year-old Black man from the West End, was fatally shot in the neck on May 11 on Crucible Street in the West End. He was taken to Mercy Hospital, where he died several weeks later. Antonio Stamps, who was found in Detroit, Mich., has been charged with criminal homicide.

JUNE 19—Christopher Jones, a 27-year-old Black male from Fineview, was found lying on the sidewalk with a gunshot wound to the upper torso in the 1700 block of Belleau Drive, in the North Side, when police responded to a call of shots being fired. He was taken to Allegheny General Hospital, where he later died. A woman was also shot. Rayshawn Edwards has been charged with criminal homicide, recklessly endangering another person and carrying a firearm without a license. He is awaiting trial.

JUNE 27—Travis Rhone, a 19-year-old Black male from McKeesport, was fatally shot in the back in the 1400 block of Versailles Avenue in McKeesport. He was taken to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital, where he later died. The investigation is ongoing.

JUNE 30—Lydell “Sean” Thompson, a 34-year-old Black male from Pittsburgh, was found with multiple gunshots on a sidewalk in front of 5225 Keystone Street, in Lawrenceville. He was taken to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital, where he later died. No charges have been filed; the investigation is ongoing.

JULY HOMICIDES (5)

JULY 1—Alison Studvant, a 46-year-old Black female from Wilkinsburg, was found with multiple gunshot wounds in the chest at 1509 Marlboro Ave., in Wilkinsburg, during an alleged argument. She was taken to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital, where she later died. Christopher Lee Harris has been charged with criminal homicide. He is currently awaiting trial.

JULY 15—Steven Daniels Jr., a 34-year-old Black male from Penn Hills, was fatally shot outside of the 30/30 Club on Frankstown Avenue. He was taken to UPMC Presbyterian, where he later died. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing.

JULY 26—Lamonte Hunter, a 19-year-old Black male from Pittsburgh, was found shot at the intersection of East Street and Evergreen Road in the North Side, after someone opened fire from a car while he was driving on July 24. He reportedly drove to a location, where a jitney driver drove him to a hospital. He was taken to Allegheny General Hospital, where he died days later. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing.

JULY 30—James Williams, a 36-year-old Black male from Penn Hills, was found shot to death with multiple gunshot wounds in his home on Saltsburg Road in Penn Hills. Williams had reportedly been involved in heavy drug activity. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing.

JULY 31—Karrie Linnen, a 17-year-old Black female from Clairton, was fatally shot when a group of teens were hanging out in a garage behind a Park Avenue home in Clairton. They had allegedly been drinking, playing cards and listening to music when someone pulled out a gun to show off. The semiautomatic went off, hitting Linnen in the chest. She was taken to Jefferson Regional Medical Center, where she later died. Gerron Chaney has been charged with homicide and reckless endangerment. He is awaiting trial.

August Homicides (9)

AUG. 5—Chris Michaux, a 19-year-old Black male from the North Side, was fatally shot in the 2600 block of Leland Street, of the North Side, after his mother had been shot on another street in the area. His 12-year-old sister, Jolesa Barber, had been shot in 2008. Michaux was taken to Allegheny General Hospital, where he later died. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing.

AUG. 14—Darius Grimsley, a 29-year-old Black male from the North Side, was found fatally shot and killed at the intersection of Alpine and Garfield Streets after authorities responded to a report of gunshots. He was lying in the street with a gunshot wound to the right of his chest. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing.

AUG. 14—Antwan Leake, a 19-year-old Black male from Hazelwood, was found shot to death in the kitchen in the residence at 315 Rochelle St., in Knoxville. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Jerod Cager has been charged with the shooting death of Leake, along with, persons not to posse a firearm, firearms not to be carried without a license, receiving stolen property, possession of a controlled substance and possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance. He is currently awaiting trial.

AUG. 15—Jason Daniel Jr., an 18-year-old Black male from Knoxville, was found shot to death in a car at the intersection of Mathews Avenue and Romeyn Street, in Knoxville. There was also a second person shot. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing.

AUG. 16—Donte Beasley, a 22-year-old Black male from the North Side, was shot to death in front of his residence on Rhine Street in the North Side. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing.

AUG. 17—Stephon Smith, a 14-year-old Black male from Larimer, was found shot to death with multiple gunshot wounds when authorities responded to a call at an apartment building at 6533 Meadow St., in Larimer. He was pronounced dead at the scene. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing.

AUG. 24—Dalyn Jones, of East Liberty, was fatally shot outside of the McDonald’s restaurant on Frankstown Road, in Penn Hills, during a shootout in the parking lot. The incident is reportedly the result of a marijuana deal gone bad. Jones was taken to UPMC Mercy Hospital, where he later died. Akeem Willie has been charged with criminal homicide, robbery, endangering the welfare of another person and weapons. A second unidentified suspect has been arrested. Willie is awaiting trial.

AUG. 28—Adrian Smiley, a 20-year-old Black male from McKeesport, was fatally shot in the trunk during a drive-by that occurred while sitting on a porch in Harrison Village of McKeesport. He was taken to McKeesport Hospital, where he later died. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing.

AUG. 28—Elaina Davis, a 57-year-old Black female from Pittsburgh, was found burned in a parking lot in the 1500 block of Colwell Street in Uptown. She had reportedly been homeless. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing.

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