KEEPING THE PEACE—City Council members stand with “Community Difference-Makers” and organizers of the “Juneteenth: Stop the Violence” event at the proclamation ceremony during the City Council meeting on June 24.
For the first time in years, the numbers for Black homicides have stayed the same for two consecutive months. While June had two homicides, neither of them were Black individuals?
Has the message of a zero tolerance for violence in the Black community, finally reached the right individuals? Has the community finally decided to take a united stand and say this behavior is unacceptable?
While the reasons for the lack of Black homicides this month are unknown, what is known is that we, as a community, must use this milestone as an inspiration to continue our efforts, so that no more of our young Black men end up being just another name on the list, instead of a teacher, a lawyer, or whatever they may want to be. Please let’s not let this be a precursor to a deadly summer. Now that we see what can be, we must continue to do.
The New Pittsburgh Courier for a while now, has been issuing challenges to the community to address this growing epidemic, well here is another; we challenge you to keep the numbers at zero. We cannot afford to lose another life.
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 affect the mental health, economic well-being and self-images of the region’s Black neighborhoods.
Out of the 40 murders, thus far, in 2013—29 were Black and 24 were Black men.
JUNE HOMICIDES (2)
JUNE 18—Alisha Virtue, a 25-year-old White female from Reserve Township, was found fatally shot to death in a home in the 3400 block of Spring Garden Road in Reserve Township. She was allegedly shot by her ex-boyfriend, Nicholas Starr, who later died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. It was ruled a murder-suicide.
JUNE 26—Brian Cook, a 24-year-old White male from McKeesport, was fatally shot during a home invasion in the 2600 block of Versailles Avenue in McKeesport. He and his girlfriend, who was also injured, were shot while they were reportedly in bed with their 1-year-old in the home. The infant was not injured. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing.
COMMUNITY CHANGER—“Community Difference-Maker” Inshirah Jihada speaks about her work with troubled youth on June 24, at the Pittsburgh City Council where a proclamation was presented to organizers of the “Juneteenth: Stop the Violence” event that took place on June 29 at Stage AE. (Photos by J.L. Martello)
JANUARY HOMICIDES (6)
JAN. 1—Ka’Sandra Wade, a 33-year-old Black female from Larimer, was found dead with multiple gunshot wounds in her Lowell Street home when authorities visited her residence after receiving concerns from relatives. Wade was killed by her boyfriend, Anthony Brown, one day after authorities, who had answered a 9-1-1 call she placed, left without investigating the call when Brown came to the window and told them everything was okay. Brown later shot himself after a brief police standoff.
JAN. 10—Deondre Pace, a 16-year-old Black male from Beltzhoover, was found laying on the sidewalk with multiple shots to the torso in front of Sheffield Funeral Home near Beltzhoover Avenue and Climax Street, in Beltzhoover. He had been leaving a convenience store near his home, when two men approached him and opened fire. Pace was taken to UPMC Mercy Hospital, where he later died. Ashanti Montgomery has been charged with criminal homicide, firearms not carried without a license and criminal conspiracy.
JAN. 11—Jayemond Bailey, a 34-year-old Black male from McKeesport, was shot to death at Street Stars bar, on Sixth Avenue in McKeesport. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing.
JAN. 13—Lou Auer, a 37-year-old White male from East Liberty, was found dead with a gunshot wound to the torso outside of 322 N. Negley Ave., in East Liberty. He was pronounced dead at the scene. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing.
JAN. 23—Michael Andrews, a 27-year-old Black male from East Hills, was found fatally shot during an alleged home invasion in the 5300 block of Brown Way in Garfield. A masked man knocked on the door of the home that was occupied by two men. When one of the males answered the door, he was shot in the face. After hearing the shot, the other male in the residence got a gun and exchanged shots with the masked man. Andrews was found in front of the home and was taken to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital, where he later died. The other men were wounded. Authorities did not clarify if Andrews lived at the house or was the intruder. The investigation is ongoing.
JAN. 28—Isaiah Dent, a 61-year-old Black male from McKees Rocks, was found beaten to death in the bathroom of his Hays Manor apartment on Locust Street in McKees Rocks. Sean Overton has been charged with criminal homicide, robbery and tampering with or fabricating physical evidence. He is awaiting trial.
FEBRUARY HOMICIDES (5)
FEB. 4—Maurice Bruce, a 32-year-old Black male from Pittsburgh, was found shot to death in the bushes near the intersection of Hamilton Avenue and Sterrett Street, in Homewood, by an individual walking by. He was reportedly shot after leaving a local bar earlier in the day and had been in the bushes for hours. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing.
FEB. 19—Constance Johnston, a 76-year-old White female from Richland Township, was stabbed to death from behind by her grandson as she sat, eating breakfast, in the kitchen of her Richland Township home in the 3900 block of Gibson Road, with her husband. Her grandson, Levi Daniel Starver, allegedly stabbed her after the archangel Michael told him to kill her while he was on the computer. Starver has been charged with criminal homicide.
FEB. 23—Brian Wright Jr., a 26-year-old Black male from Homewood, was found with a gunshot wound to the chest at the intersection of Tangent Way and Enterprise Street in Larimer. Wright was pronounced dead at the scene. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing.
FEB. 24—Andre Broadie, a 25-year-old Black male from Penn Hills, was shot in the head inside a home in the 5100 block of Columbo Street in Garfield when he and another male entered the home of a person they knew. It has been reported that Broadie was thought to be an intruder. Investigators are calling it a case of mistaken identity. It is unknown if charges will be filed. The investigation is ongoing.
FEB. 28—Tiona Jackson, a 28-year-old Black female from the Hill District, was shot to death while leaving Red’s Ringside Café near the intersection of East Warrington and Vincent Street in Beltzhoover. A male was also injured. Jackson was pronounced dead at the scene. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing.
MARCH HOMICIDES (9)
MARCH 3—John Sumpter, a 32-year-old Black male of Wilkinsburg, was fatally shot multiple times while sitting in his vehicle outside of Club Pink, a Munhall Strip Club in the 900 block of East Eighth Avenue, after a fight earlier that evening. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Paul Barrone is charged with homicide and is awaiting trial.
MARCH 6—Maurice Penny, a 24-year-old Black male from McKees Rocks, was found dead with multiple shots when a shootout erupted in the hallway of an apartment building in the 500 block of Penn Avenue in Friendship. Penny was a rapper also known as “Big Penny.” No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing.
MARCH 11—James Adams, a 29-year-old White male from Imperial, was fatally shot in the head while inside the Fort Pitt Inn bar in North Fayette after a man, who was also inside, reportedly became angry after a text message conversation with his girlfriend, walked out and came back in with three handguns. David Mazzocco is charged with homicide, attempted homicide, two counts of aggravated assault, 11 counts of reckless endangerment and weapons violations. He is awaiting trial.
MARCH 19—Lora Hoffman, a 31-year-old White female from Sheraden, was allegedly stabbed to death by her brother in her Sheraden home in the 3600 block of Allendale Circle when they were allegedly arguing over him lying on the couch while the family was watching television. He reportedly walked into the kitchen, grabbed a knife and returned stabbing her multiple times in the head, face and neck. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Chris Hoffman is charged with homicide and is awaiting trial.
MARCH 26—Terrance Moore, a 34-year-old Black male from Clairton, died hours after being shot in his car during a gunfight outside a home on Halcomb Avenue. He was taken to Allegheny General Hospital, where he later died. Others were also injured. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing.
MARCH 28—Bernadette Scholl, a 74-year-old White female from Munhall, died from injuries she sustained when she was allegedly shot by her son, Anthony Scholl, in her Munhall home on Longfellow Drive. She was found when officers entered her home after a standoff with her son. Anthony Scholl is charged with homicide and weapons violations. He is awaiting trial.
MARCH 29—Kellcy Thomas, an 18-year-old Black male from McKeesport, was found with gunshot wounds to the trunk in the 1400 block of Evans Avenue. He had been taken to UPMC McKeesport, where he later died. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing.
MARCH 30—Steven Lee Jr., a 21-year-old Black male from McKees Rocks, was fatally shot aboard a “party bus” near Chartiers Street in Sheraden after a fight reportedly broke out. He was taken to Allegheny General Hospital, where he later died. A warrant has been issued for Michael Lyons on charges of criminal homicide and carrying an unlicensed firearm. He is still at large.
MARCH 30—Mark Rucker, a 21-year-old Black male from Monroeville, was found shot to death in the stairwell of a building in the Cambridge Square housing complex. He was allegedly shot in the chest and died at the scene after another man accused Rucker of sleeping with his girlfriend. Jamey McKee has been charged with homicide
APRIL HOMICIDES (8)
APRIL 2—Dwan Jones, a 41-year-old Black male from Mount Oliver, died after being struck by a car in February at the intersection of Frankstown and Paulson Avenues. He allegedly was hit by the mother of his three children, Damona Anderson, after they had gotten into an argument. Anderson reportedly hit and drove over Jones and then took money from his pocket. Jones was taken to a local hospital, where he died a month later. Anderson is charged with homicide, aggravated assault and robbery. She is awaiting her trial.
APRIL 6—Tyrone Milton, a 50-year-old Black male from Braddock, was fatally shot in the head during a confrontation between two men at Deb’s Place, a bar in Miller Avenue in Rankin. Milton reportedly was not involved in the confrontation. He was taken to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital, where he later died. An arrest warrant has been issued for Darryl Reaves. He is charged with homicide, aggravated assault, reckless endangerment and weapons violations. He is still at large.
APRIL 10—Monica Proviano, a 28-year-old Black woman from Wilkinsburg, was found shot to death on Trenton Avenue in Wilkinsburg. She allegedly had been robbed by two men when she answered a call for a jitney. The two men had reportedly planned the incident. She was robbed, shot and then her vehicle was taken. Timothy Brock Jr. and William McGraw are charged with homicide, conspiracy, robbery and robbery of a vehicle. They are awaiting their trials.
APRIL 10—Leon Wilson, a 42-year-old Black male from Homewood, was found with multiple shots to the chest, arm and head in an upstairs hallway of a home at 586 Oakwood St., in Homewood. Wilson was allegedly shot after a domestic dispute with his fiancée. His fiancée had called her daughter, who also brought her boyfriend, a Pennsylvania State Constable. Wilson was allegedly packing a bag when he fired shots at his fiancée’s son, hitting him in the shoulder. The constable ordered him to drop the weapon; Wilson allegedly fired another shot and the constable then fired multiple shots. The constable’s name was not released. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing.
APRIL 11—Loretta Jackson, a 65-year-old Black female from West Mifflin, was found with multiple gunshot wounds in her Patton Street home in West Mifflin. Authorities found her when they answered a call of an alarm being activated and saw a forced entry when they arrived. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing.
APRIL 13—Dearto Rankin, a 39-year-old Black male from Verona, was found fatally shot in the 600 block of Linden Avenue in East Pittsburgh. He was found when authorities were answering a call about a disturbance involving gunshots. According to reports, Rankin and his brother, Andre Rankin, were arguing when the gun went off. Andre Rankin is charged with homicide. He is awaiting his trial.
APRIL 27—Andrew Moore, a 31-year-old White male from Venetia, was shot in the head when he entered Armen’s House of Music on Library Road, in Bethel Park, and attacked the owners. He reportedly entered the store, left, then returned again and assaulted one of the storeowners with a club. Her husband reportedly then shot Moore. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing.
APRIL 28—Brandon Stokes, a 21-year-old Black male from Penn Hills, died of a gunshot wound to the chest at 8619 Westwood Rd., in Penn Hills, when a gun was fired while another man was removing money from his pocket. The bullet hit another man in the abdomen and then hit Stokes in the chest. He was taken to UPMC Shadyside Hospital; where he later died. Marijuana was reportedly involved. Ronald Riviere has been charged with homicide.
MAY HOMICIDES (10)
MAY 1—Lois Cook, a 57-year-old White female from Greenfield, was found by authorities bludgeoned to death in the basement of her home, under a tarp, at 4012 Windsor St., in Greenfield, after they received a call of concern when Cook did not come to work. Her husband, Bruce Cook, allegedly struck her in the head with a mallet, attempted to suffocate her and then stabbed her with a pick ax. Bruce Cook has been charged with homicide, tampering with evidence and more. He is awaiting trial.
MAY 6—Tyrone Coleman, an 18-year-old Black male from Duquesne, was fatally shot to death, along with Lawrence Short, in the 600 block of Crawford Avenue in Duquesne. He was taken to UPMC McKeesport Hospital, where he later died. Michael Robinson has been charged with two counts of homicide and weapons violations. A warrant has been issued for Glenn Smith, who is still at large. The investigation is ongoing.
MAY 6—Lawrence Short, a 29-year-old Black male from Clairton, was shot to death, along with Tyrone Coleman, in the 600 block of Crawford Avenue in Duquesne. Michael Robinson is charged with two counts of homicide and weapons violations. There is an arrest warrant issued for Glenn Smith. The investigation is ongoing.
MAY 10—Stephanie Byrd, a 44-year-old White female from Lawrenceville, was shot to death at a Carlton Street home in Lawrenceville. She was reportedly shot by her estranged husband Bruce Byrd, when she went to her mother-in-law’s home to pick up things. No one was expected to be home and Bruce Byrd lived next door. She was shot more than 30 times when she entered the home. After killing Byrd, Bruce Byrd, allegedly shot himself. The incident has been ruled a murder-suicide.
MAY 11—Dejour Gadsden, a 17-year-old Black male from McKeesport, was shot to death at a residence on White Hill Drive, in the Hill District, when three men entered the home and began shooting. Gadsden was pronounced dead at the scene and one other person was injured. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing.
MAY 17—Roger Griffin, a 54-year-old Black male from Knoxville, was fatally shot in the chest after an argument over drugs at a Knoxville home. After being shot, money was allegedly taken from Griffin. Khamal Fooks and Rayshon Shields have been charged with homicide, robbery, conspiracy and Fooks was also charged with illegal firearms possession. They are awaiting trial.
MAY 21—Marcus White Jr., a 1-year-old Black male from East Hills, was fatally shot while attending a picnic with his two aunts, in the 2300 block of East Hills Drive, when three men fired shots into a crowd. Two people were injured and White was taken to UPMC Children’s Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing.
MAY 24—Davar Reid, a 26-year-old Black male from Duquesne, was fatally shot multiple times at the Highview Gardens housing complex on Sixth Avenue, in McKeesport. He was taken to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital; where he later died. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing.
MAY 24—Delasia Detrieuille, a 16-year-old Black female from Rankin, was shot to death near the Hawkins Village playground on Kenmawr Avenue, in Rankin, after allegedly confronting two men who had robbed her earlier while she was trying to sell a firearm. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Londell Jones has been charged with homicide.
MAY 29—John Haas, a 59-year-old White male from Pittsburgh, was fatally shot while picking up a customer in his jitney on Brownlee Street at the Crawford Village housing complex in McKeesport. Authorities said Haas was not the intended target and that his vehicle was mistaken for one belonging to a rival gang. Haas was taken to a local hospital; where he later died. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing.
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