This time last year, the month of April was one of the most deadly months of the year for the number of homicides, with six—five being Black men. But this year, the month of April was one of the least deadly months with only four—three of them being Black men.
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While the overall number of homicides thus far is 25, only one less than 2011, the number of Black homicides has decreased as well; showing a glimpse of hope that the anti-violence message is being heard and sinking in.
As the temperatures rise, the shootings tend to also. There have been many structural developments that have taken or are expected to take place in the Black communities, such as the Thelma Lovette YMCA, playgrounds, retail space, etc., but all of these will be in vain if we continue to let violence overrun our streets.
It is time for public officials, community leaders and yes, even us residents, to step up, make a plan and take action. There needs to be more officers on patrol, more programs implemented for young people to keep them off the streets and even more neighborhood watches by residents. We need to give those in our communities committing these violent acts, a constant reminder that we will not let them overtake our communities.
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 25 murders, thus far, in 2012–18 were Black and 16 were Black men.
APRIL HOMICIDES (4)
APRIL 2—Kevin Buchanan Jr., a 19-year-old Black male from South Side, was fatally shot in the chest at a relative’s home in the 1500 block of Conway Street in Arlington. He was taken to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital, where he later died. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing.
APRIL 6—Shawn Januck, an 18-year-old White male from Wilmerding, was shot in the head in the kitchen of a home on Lydia Street in Wilmerding. Seth Dillon has been charged with criminal homicide and a firearms violation. He allegedly tried to cover up the homicide. Dillon is awaiting trial.
APRIL 16—Don Jones, a 19-year-old Black male of McKeesport, was found fatally shot multiple times in the street near the intersection of Ferndale Avenue and Catherine Street in Duquesne, after reportedly being with friends. He was taken to UPMC McKeesport, where he later died. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing.
APRIL 21—Ricardo Cooper, a 30-year-old Black male from East Liberty, was found dead with a gunshot wound to the head in his East Liberty home in the 600 block of North Euclid Street. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing.
JANUARY HOMICIDES (6)
JAN. 1—Shateecha Roach, a 27-year-old Black female from Beltzhoover, was fatally shot while a patron inside Fever Night Club, in the Strip District, when a fight broke out and gun fire erupted. She was taken to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital, where she later died. Three others were injured. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing.
JAN. 2—Chaz Anger, a 21-year-old Black male from Pittsburgh, was shot to death in the back and neck outside of a Brighton Heights apartment at 3437 Fleming Ave., in the North Side. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing.
JAN. 6—Mark Senay, a 40-year-old White male from Greenfield, found dead with a gunshot wound to the head in his home in the 1400 block of Bristol Street in Greenfield. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing.
JAN. 14—Daniel Peek, a 16-year-old Black male from Duquesne, was fatally shot during a family gathering at his home at the Parkview Manor Apartments in the 2500 block of Duquesne Place Drive, in Duquesne. He was reportedly hit by bullets that passed through the door during a gunfight in the hallway. No one was charged; the investigation is ongoing.
JAN. 24—Quinn White, a 24-year-old Black male from McKees Rocks, was found dead with a gunshot wound to the head in the 100 block of Churchill Street in McKees Rocks. He had allegedly been walking home and in the process of making a call when he was killed. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing.
JAN. 29—Kevin Hill, a 31-year-old Black male from South Side, was fatally stabbed in the neck at a home at 120 Amanda Avenue, in Mount Oliver, after an alleged argument. He had been taken to UPMC Mercy Hospital, where he later died. Donald Finnigan has been charged with the homicide and is currently awaiting trial.
FEBRUARY HOMICIDES (9)
FEB. 8—Melissa Bowers, a 36-year-old White female from Carnegie, was stabbed to death during a domestic altercation with her on and off again boyfriend at a home on Railroad Avenue in Carnegie. Jeffrey Maloy is charged with homicide and is currently awaiting trial.
FEB. 9—David Loftin, a 43-year-old Black male from Hazelwood, was found shot to death in the woods behind the Mon View Apartment Complex in West Mifflin by authorities who were searching for a missing man. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing.
FEB. 10—Sean Blackwell, a 35-year-old Black male from Manchester, was found with a gunshot wound to the chest in the kitchen of an apartment in the 1700 block of Termon Avenue in the North Side, after an apparent drug deal gone bad. He was taken to Allegheny General Hospital, where he later died. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing.
FEB. 11—Roman Herring, a 21-year-old Black male from Pittsburgh, was found fatally shot inside of a car in the 1400 block of Hill Avenue in Wilkinsburg. He was with a friend. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing.
FEB. 11—Leron Brown, a 21-year-old Black male from Wall, was found shot to death in a vehicle in the 1400 block of Hill Avenue in Wilkinsburg. He was found with Roman Herring. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing.
FEB. 13—Donovan McKee, an 11-year-old Black male from Knoxville, was fatally beaten to death by his mother’s boyfriend at the apartment where they lived, 107 Knox Ave., in Knoxville. McKee had allegedly been struck with Anthony Bush’s hand and several objects around the apartment, while his mother was at work. He was taken to UPMC Mercy Hospital, then later to Children’s Hospital, where he later died. Bush is charged with criminal homicide and endangering the welfare of children. He is currently awaiting trial.
FEB. 22—Devonte Snowden, a 19-year-old Black male from Lincoln-Lemington, was found dead with gunshot wounds to the face in his vehicle in the 7200 block of Somerset Street in the Lincoln-Lemington area. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing.
FEB. 23—Arron Crable, a 23-year-old Black male from Clairton, was fatally shot in the parking lot of the Hi View Gardens Apartment at 6th Street in McKeesport. He had been greeting his sister, who had arrived in another vehicle, when shots were fired. He was struck in the trunk and his sister was also hit. His sister survived but he was taken to UPMC McKeesport, where he later died. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing.
FEB. 28—Michael Haines, a 31-year-old White male from East Pittsburgh, was found shot in the back of the head in the back of an abandoned
Garda Cash Logistics truck, the company where he had been employed. It seemed to have been a heist. Along with more than $2 million, Haines’ partner that day was also missing, Kenneth Konias Jr. He is still at large. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing.
MARCH HOMICIDES (6)
MARCH 8—John F. Shick, a 30-year-old White male from Pittsburgh, was fatally shot by University of Pittsburgh police after he opened fire in the lobby of the Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic in Oakland, killing one person and injuring several others. His motive is unknown, but he reportedly had mental health problems.
MARCH 8—Michael Schaab, a 25-year-old White male from Regent Square, was shot and killed when returning to work from his lunch in the lobby of the Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic in Oakland. The gunman, John Shick, was killed shortly after committing the shooting, by University of Pittsburgh police.
MARCH 13—Angela Proctor, a 51-year-old Black female from Penn Hills, was fatally shot during an argument at her home on Westwood Road, in Penn Hills, when Andre Davis had allegedly come to buy drugs, but was enraged when he saw someone he had previously argued with was at the residence. Proctor was shot when she allegedly went to check on the noise, and so was her son. Davis is charged with homicide, aggravated assault and a firearms violation. He is currently awaiting his trial.
MARCH 13—Manning Proctor, a 22-year-old Black male from Penn Hills, was shot to death when an argument broke out at his home on Westwood Road in Penn Hills. Andre Davis had allegedly come to the home to purchase drugs and became upset when he saw someone he had a previous dispute with at the residence. Proctor and his mother, Angela, were killed. Davis is charged with homicide, aggravated assault and a firearms violation. He is currently awaiting trial.
MARCH 25—Deontay Smith, a 17-year-old Black male from East Liberty, was fatally shot multiple times, a majority of them to the head, near Inner City Ministries in the 500 block of West St. Clair Street. He had been walking with a friend, when a male approached and opened fire on him. The friend fled and was unharmed. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing.
MARCH 31—Mary Manning, a 71-year-old White female from Whitehall was found dead by authorities in the family room of her Whitehall home, where she lived with her husband in the 1100 block of Brant Drive. Authorities had been responding to a call when they found Manning’s husband, Joseph Manning, outside of the home, covered in blood and holding a bloody object. After refusing to drop the object, he was Tased. Manning died from blunt force trauma to the head. She had allegedly been beat to death with a pipe wrench. Joseph Manning is charged with criminal homicide.
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