It was on Jan. 20, that Connie Moore received news that her only son, Hosea Davis, 37, of Penn Hills, had been found shot to death in a Larimer alley. His body was riddled with bullets, many at close range. It was that day that her life changed forever.
Days later, authorities, with the help of witnesses, identified Davis’ suspected killer as Rodney Howard Jr. He is facing a charge of criminal homicide.
Now, almost a month later, Howard still has not been apprehended and Moore is doing everything she can to make sure no one forgets about her son, his suspected killer, or the Black on Black violence plaguing local communities.
On Feb. 17, Moore, along with family, friends and members of the community, held a vigil on Shetland Avenue, near the location of her son’s shooting.
“I’m doing this so people don’t forget. It’s not just about my son,” Moore said. “The community needs to know what’s going on and they need to get together.”
Moore said the loss of her only son has been devastating. “I’m not saying my son was an angel, but he didn’t deserve that (being shot 16 times). He was a good man, a great father and a wonderful son.” She continued, “I can’t sleep, I barely eat. I think about it and I just cry. I just want closure and there will be no closure until there’s justice. I don’t want revenge, I just want justice; so I can move on for my grandchildren.” He had five children.
It was just last year, in March, which Davis was credited as being a hero for helping to subdue a man that had stabbed a teen at the Target store in East Liberty.
During the vigil, Moore asked that anyone with information about Howard’s whereabouts, please contact local authorities.
“Let that man stand for what that man has done. Just do the right thing, just call the police and turn him in,” Moore said. “If he was man enough to shoot my son 16 times, then he should be man enough to face the judge. Nobody with that mentality should be walking the streets. He’s a danger to the citizens and the officers. He shouldn’t be walking the streets.”
Moore said she and Howard’s family are both from the Larimer community and finds it hard to see them everyday. She even pleaded for his parents to turn him in before someone else finds him.
“I’d hate for his mother to go through what I’m going through,” Moore said.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police Homicide Division at 412-323-7161.
Follow @NewPghCourier on Twitter https://twitter.com/NewPghCourier
Like us at https://www.facebook.com/pages/New-Pittsburgh-Courier/143866755628836?ref=hl
Download our mobile app at https://www.appshopper.com/news/new-pittsburgh-courier
About Post Author
