In July, Allegheny County was plagued by 12 homicides bringing the total to 58, with 47 of the victims African-Americans. We are quickly on the way to passing last year’s total of 73 homicides, 58 of them taking Black lives. Last year was the lowest year of homicides in four years. While the beginning of 2012 brought hope that the senseless killings would continue to decline, that hope is quickly fading.
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Each month the New Pittsburgh Courier displays the names and circumstances behind the senseless killings that have occurred, and while no life deserves to be taken in such a tragic way. We as a community must open our eyes and look at who the real victims are. Are the names on the list true victims, or do they increase their chances by involving themselves in illegal activities that are known to bring harm? The answer is both. We as a community need to be real. Once we get rid of the illegal guns in the hands of our young people, the drugs, the gangs, etc., then we can begin to clean up our streets and have the safe neighborhoods that were not so long ago.
If there ever was a need to work together it is now. It is time for political officials, law enforcement and residents to come together. We are in the midst of an epidemic and way past the marches and vigils. It is time for action. We need a ban on assault weapons, tougher gun legislation, more patrols, neighborhood watches and for residents to step up, if you know who is doing what and where it is being done, then it’s your responsibility to report it. Just because it is not on your street, doesn’t mean it doesn’t matter. It isn’t snitching if you’re not involved in the activity. This epidemic is spreading far too rapidly and we, as a Black community, need to do something now. We can no longer afford silence, because your street could be next.
As part of our ongoing effort to heighten awareness about the effects of murder in Black communities, the New Pittsburgh Courier will continue to 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 58 murders, thus far, in 2012—47 were Black and 44 were Black men.
JULY HOMICIDES (12)
JULY 1—Chauncey Williams, an 18-year-old Black male from Duquesne was fatally shot while sitting on the porch of a home in the 1300 block of Craig Street in McKeesport when someone opened fire. Williams was taken to Allegheny General Hospital; where he later died. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing.
JULY 1—Dashawna Gibson, a 24-year-old Black female from Wilkinsburg, was found dead with a gunshot wound to the head in her bedroom, alongside her boyfriend, in her home in the 500 block of Princeton Boulevard in Wilkinsburg. Joshua Wright, Gibson’s ex-boyfriend of whom she had past troubles with, has been charged with two counts of homicide and one count of burglary. He is awaiting trial.
JULY 1—Michael Lee Black, a 23-year-old Black male from Wilkinsburg, was found shot in the head in his home in the 500 block of Princeton Boulevard in Wilkinsburg. He had been in bed with his girlfriend, Dashawna Gibson. He and Gibson had been dating for a year. Joshua Wright, Gibson’s ex-boyfriend, has been charged with two counts of homicide and burglary. He is awaiting trial.
JULY 6—Steven Flanagan, a 2-year-old White male from West Virginia, died after nearly drowning in a bathtub at Best Western Hotel in Greentree on July 1. He was taken to Children’s Hospital; where he was on life support and died days later. Sharon Flanagan, his mother, allegedly tried to drown him. She is charged with criminal homicide, endangering the welfare of a child and aggravated assault. She is awaiting trial.
JULY 6—Jaquae Pascal, a 26-year-old Black male from Wilkinsburg, was fatally shot while leaving a barbershop in the 400 block of Kirkpatrick Street in the Hill District. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing.
JULY 9—Jemel Howard Bey, a 19-year-old Black male from Wilkinsburg, was found fatally shot in the torso in the 1700 block of Paul Court in Wilkinsburg. He was taken to UMPC Presbyterian Hospital where he later died. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing.
JULY 11—James Sims, a 20-year-old White male from Pittsburgh, died after being shot multiple times, including his head, while in his car on July 6 near the intersection of Versailles Avenue and Pirl Street in McKeesport. He died days later at a local hospital. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing.
JULY 15—Antwon Underwood, a 27-year-old Black male from Pittsburgh, was shot to death after a fight erupted outside of Earl the Pearl bar in the 7200 block of Kelly Street in Homewood. Underwood was shot in the chest and the head. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing.
JULY 16—Javon Riley, a 19-year-old Black male from McKees Rocks, was found on the street outside of a vehicle with a gunshot wound to the head in the 1200 block of Vine Street in McKees Rocks. He was pronounced dead at the scene. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing.
JULY 16—Kalief Gates, a 21-year-old Black male from Pittsburgh, was fatally shot in the chest and head while allegedly committing a home invasion in the 400 block of Alexander Street in McKees Rocks. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing.
JULY 18—Darnell Johnson, a 17-year-old Black male from McKees Rocks, was found with a gunshot wound to the head at the bottom of a set of steps near Centre Avenue in the Hill District. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing.
JULY 27—Mario Berry, a 35-year-old Black male from Duquesne, was shot and killed in a pavilion at Renzie Park in McKeesport during a gathering. 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.
APRIL HOMICIDES (4)
APRIL 2—Kevin Buchanan Jr., a 19-year-old Black male from the 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. Ronald Williams has been charged with criminal homicide.
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.
MAY HOMICIDES (6)
MAY 1—James Johnson, a 29-year-old Black male from Homewood, was shot multiple times, while inside his vehicle, outside the New Jug Bar, at 1504 Lincoln Ave. in Lincoln-Lemington, which he had just left. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Johnson had been acquitted of killing a North Braddock man six years ago. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing.
MAY 1—Rontez Durham, a 26-year-old Black male from North Braddock, was reportedly shot while sitting on the porch of a home in the 400 block of Stokes Avenue in North Braddock. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing.
MAY 5—Michael Parrotte, a 17-year-old Black male from Wilkinsburg, was shot to death in the 1500 block of Hunter Street in Wilkinsburg. He died of a gunshot wound to the torso. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing.
MAY 6—Donte Hawkins, a 20-year-old Black male from Verona, was found laying in the street with a gunshot wound to the back outside of the Trappers Club, 6505 Hamilton Ave., in Larimer. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Hawkins had been on summer break from a local university. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing.
MAY 11—Calvonne Rollins, a 20-year-old Black male from Duquesne, was fatally shot while driving his car on Blackadore Avenue in Penn Hills. One of his passengers reportedly pulled out a gun and Rollins was shot. A warrant has been issued for the arrest of Frank Booker. He is still on the run and is considered armed and dangerous.
MAY 11—Cody Ruder, a 21-year-old White male from West Mifflin, was shot and killed at the Mon View Heights housing complex on Midway Drive in West Mifflin. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Richard Krista has been charged with criminal homicide and is currently awaiting his trial.
MAY 11—Joseph Sherrill, a 19-year-old Black male from West Mifflin, was shot and killed in the Mon View Heights housing complex on Midway Drive in West Mifflin. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Richard Krista has been charged with criminal homicide and is currently awaiting his trial.
MAY 13—Shakkeem Harris, a 22-year-old Black male from East Liberty, was found lying face down with multiple gunshots wounds near the back of Joe Natoli Field, by 1600 Vilanova Rd., in Morningside, after allegedly meeting with Julian Davis to hang out and talk. He was pronounced dead on the scene. Davis has been charged with criminal homicide, carrying a firearm without a license and theft. He is currently awaiting trial.
MAY 20—Elden Harper, a 35-year-old Black male from the Hill District, was found with a gunshot wound to the head in the 700 block of North Homewood Avenue in Homewood. He was standing on the street when a male approached him from behind and shot him in the head. He was pronounced dead at the scene. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing.
MAY 25—William Harrington, a 33-year-old Black male from Pittsburgh, was shot in the head at the Hawkins Village housing complex on South Braddock Avenue, in Rankin while visiting a relative. He was taken to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital, where he later died. Bernard Carter has been charged with criminal homicide and is currently awaiting trial.
MAY 26—Marshawn Ptomey, a 19-year-old Black male from McKees Rocks, was found with a gunshot wound to the head in the 300 block of Russellwood Avenue in McKees Rocks on May 24 and was taken to Allegheny General Hospital, where he died two days later. He had been reportedly shot during a confrontation with a male and female. The female allegedly shot him after he pushed her during the confrontation. Destiny Brown has been charged with homicide and is currently awaiting trial.
MAY 27—Derrick Brown, a 32-year-old Black male from Pittsburgh, was found with a gunshot wound to the chest, by police, at a park on Strauss Street on the North Side. He was taken to Allegheny General Hospital, where he later died. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing.
June Homicides (9)
JUNE 13—Odell Brown, a 19-year-old Black male from East Liberty, was fatally shot in the chest during a 90-minute standoff in the 500 block of North Euclid Street in East Liberty. Reportedly Brown had been distraught over a recent break up and was waving a gun around in the middle of the street. After several demands to put the gun down, Brown was shot by a sheriff’s deputy after he allegedly refused to put the gun down and pointed it at the deputy. He was taken to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital, where he later died. It was found that the gun was a gun-like looking pellet gun. The deputy has been placed on leave and an investigation is being conducted, which is protocol.
JUNE 15—Scott King, a 19-year-old Black male from Verona, was found in the driver’s seat of a vehicle, with a gunshot wound to his upper torso, in the 900 block of White Alley in McKees Rocks. He was taken to Allegheny General Hospital, where he later died. It was reportedly a robbery gone wrong. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing.
JUNE 18—Jordan Coyner, a 20-year-old White male from Kennedy Township, was shot in the head at his parent’s home in the 500 block of Julia Lane in Kennedy Township, during a drug deal gone wrong. A group of males allegedly contacted Coyner to buy marijuana, but went there with the intent to rob him. Coyner was shot and died at the scene. Devele Reid has been charged with homicide and a firearms offense, along with, John Lee, Dmetrei McCann and Brandon Lind who are charged with criminal homicide, conspiracy to commit robbery and robbery. Lee, McCann and Lind are being charged as adults. They are awaiting their trial.
JUNE 20—Montrell Green, a 24-year-old Black male from the Hill District, was found dead with a gunshot wound to the head in the courtyard of the Bedford Dwellings Housing Complex in the 2400 block of Bedford Avenue. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing.
JUNE 22—Voltaire Meade, a 45-year-old Black male from Clairton, was found fatally shot, along with an employee, after two men entered the office of Meade Brothers’ Trucking Inc., a small business owned by Meade. He was taken to UPMC McKeesport Hospital, where he later died. The motive is unknown. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing.
JUNE 24—Aaron Thompson Jr., a 24-year-old Black male from West Mifflin, was found dead with a gunshot wound to the head outside his home in the 400 block of Mifflin Street in West Mifflin. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing.
JUNE 24—Mileek Grissom, a 23-year-old Black male from Beechview, was fatally shot in the chest in the 600 block of Noblestown Road in Greentree. He was taken to UPMC Mercy Hospital, where he later died. Lamar Alston was arrested moments later after he tried to run away from the scene and shot at police. Alston has been charged with criminal homicide, three counts of attempted homicide, three counts of aggravated assault, tampering with physical evidence and flight to avoid apprehension, trial or punishment. He is currently awaiting trial.
JUNE 28—Deondre Kenney, a 15-year-old Black male from the North Side, was found dead with multiple gunshot wounds in a vehicle in a wooded area in the 1900 block of Buena Vista Street in the North Side. It has been reported that shots were fired and the vehicle continued until it rested on a sidewalk. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing.
JUNE 28—Mathew Burton, a 21-year-old Black male from the Hill District, was found dead with multiple gunshot wounds to the head, neck and trunk in the 1900 block of Buena Vista Street in the North Side. He was found with another male. No one has been charged; the investigation is still ongoing. (Name has also been reported as Matthew Burton.)
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