With its total of 64 homicides thus far in 2015, eight of them taking place during the month of August, Allegheny County has had fewer homicides than last year at this time. The eight were also less than August 2014’s monthly total of 10.
Once again, as in previous months, like March, all this month’s victims were Black; all of them under the age of 40, and most under the age of 30.
A few of the homicides were the result of robbery attempts gone bad. Please tell me why there is this need to rob someone over a few bucks? What happened to working hard for what one wants? Our parents did it, their parents did, and so did their parent’s parents. When one doesn’t work hard for what they want, they lose out on that good feeling of accomplishment, the feeling one gets when they can step back, look at what they achieved and say, “I did that.”
The senseless killings need to stop. Not one more mother, father or child should have to shed another tear over a life gone too soon over this nonsense.
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 64 murders, thus far, in 2015—54 were Black and 49 were Black men.
August Homicides (8)
AUG. 4—Michael Nolen, a 22-year-old Black male from McKees Rocks, was shot to death in the 700 block of Frederick Street in McKees Rocks while in a vehicle that had been fired upon. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Nolen, reportedly, had been shot the week prior. Joshua Strayhorn, the individual authorities believe was driving the getaway car, but is not the shooter, has been charged with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. The shooter is still at large.
AUG. 12—Donald Jenkins, a 35-year-old Black male from the North Side, was fatally shot while in a home in the 100 block of Miller Avenue in Rankin. He was taken to UPMC Mercy Hospital where he later died. Cyrano Morrison has been charged with criminal homicide, recklessly endangering another person among other charges.
AUG. 13—Ramar Grant, a 26-year-old Black male from Garfield, was fatally shot in the stairwell of the Bedford Dwellings Apartment complex in the 2400 block of Bedford Avenue in the Hill District. He was pronounced dead at the scene. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing.
AUG. 15—Kason Barnes, a 19-year-old male from Chartiers City, was fatally shot in the head and shoulder while shooting dice outside of a home with a group of males in the 400 block of West Prospect Avenue in the Fairywood neighborhood. A car reportedly approached the group; two men got out and opened fire. Three others were shot. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing.
AUG. 19—Dersean Alberty-Brown, a 22-year-old Black male from Sharpsville, Pa., was shot during a failed robbery attempt outside of a home in the 600 block of Fahenstock Street in East Hills, Alberty-Brown and three other men had allegedly gone to the home to buy marijuana from two other men. One of the men at the home reportedly shot Alberty-Brown at point-blank range. He was taken to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital where he later died. After Alberty-Brown was shot, the men allegedly went through his pockets looking for money, but found nothing. Deshawn Hall and Raymon Collin Harris are charged with homicide, robbery and more.
AUG. 22—Matthew Vearnon, a 31- year-old Black male from North Side, was shot at his home while reportedly exchanging gunfire with three men who had attempted to force their way into his residence in the 200 block of Chester Avenue in the Perry South neighborhood of the North Side. He was pronounced dead at the scene. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing.
AUG. 23—Shaka McGhie, a 24-year-old Black male from Forest Hills, was shot multiple times near the Churchill exit ramp of the Parkway East while in a vehicle with two other men. One of the passengers allegedly shot McGhie and then the two got out of the vehicle and fled the scene. A woman with a connection to the men and who had been driving behind their vehicle, got out of her car and jumped in the vehicle with McGhie in it and drove it to Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC. He later died. It has been reported that the incident was drug related. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing.
AUG. 24—Daren Scott, a 25-year-old Black male from Munhall, was shot while driving a vehicle in the 300 block of East Twelfth Avenue in Homestead. He got out of the car and tried to run to safety, but collapsed shortly thereafter. Carlos Mallay Harris Jr. has been charged with homicide, attempted homicide and other charges.
July Homicides (12)
JULY 3—Thomas Johnson Jr., a 24-year-old Black male from Penn Hills, was fatally shot in the head while at the Hudson Court public housing community on Broad Street in East Liberty. He was taken to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital where he later died. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing.
JULY 10—Derek McCellan, a 44-year-old Black male from McKeesport, was fatally shot to death while in a vehicle near the intersection of Chambers Street and Broad Avenue in Clairton. According to reports, McCellan’s body was discovered by a person passing by and he was pronounced dead at the scene. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing. The Allegheny County Office of Medical Examiner reports his last name as McCellan, other reports identify him as McClellan.
JULY 15—Kelvaughn Hawthorne, a 32-year-old Black male from Wilkinsburg, was found fatally shot outside of Cousins Corner Market at the intersection of Laketon Road and Montier Street in Wilkinsburg. He was taken to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital where he died. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing.
JULY 16—Donald Harris Jr., a 20-year-old Black male from Pittsburgh, was shot to death while leaving a home in the 200 block of Lombard Street in the Hill District. Harris and another man were reportedly getting into a vehicle when another male approached them and opened fire. Harris, who was getting into the driver’s seat, ran and collapsed shortly after; he was pronounced dead at the scene. The other male was taken to a local hospital. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing.
JULY 18—Paul Jones Jr., a 31-year-old Black male from Duquesne, was shot to death outside of Sunoco gas station at 6481 Frankstown Ave., in Larimer. Police found Jones after receiving a ShotSpotter notification. He was pronounced dead at the scene. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing.
JULY 18—Dennis Pence, a 54-year-old White male from McKeesport, was beaten to death and died as a result of multiple blows to the head, neck, back and more. Police found him dead in the yard of a house on 24th Street in McKeesport. He allegedly was beaten during an altercation at a nearby tattoo shop. Dustin Rice has been charged with homicide and is awaiting trial.
JULY 19—Maria Bruno, a 25-year-old White female from Brookline, was fatally shot while at a home in the 900 block of Fordham Avenue, in Brookline, after a reported gathering at the home. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Daniel Rehll is charged with criminal homicide and is awaiting trial.
JULY 20—Jay Wilder-Rice, a 17-year-old Black male from the North Side, was fatally shot near the intersection of Minott and Sorrento Streets in the Marshall-Shadeland area of the North Side. He was found after a police officer spotted him lying on the street and was taken to Allegheny General Hospital where he later died. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing.
JULY 25—David Poole, a 44-year-old White male from McKees Rocks, died from injuries sustained in May during a brutal beaten. He was walking with a friend in Stowe Township when three men allegedly attempted to rob him and beat him, hitting him in the head and cracking his skull. He had been in a coma and died of blunt force trauma to the head. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing.
JULY 25—Lamar Thomas, a 44-year-old Black male from the North Side, was fatally shot in the head when two men allegedly entered his barbershop in the 2600 block of Stayton Street, in the North Side, in an attempt to rob him. Javahn Devonte Griffin and Keith Payne have been charged with criminal homicide, robbery and criminal conspiracy. They are awaiting trial.
JULY 28—Deona Barnett, a 27-year-old Black female from the North Side, was found lying on the sidewalk at the intersection of Fleming and Richard Avenues and Antrim Street, in the Brighton Heights section of the North Side, with multiple gunshot wounds. Barnett, who was pregnant, was taken to UPMC Mercy Hospital where she later died. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing.
JULY 30—Shakiem Williams, a 41-year-old Black male from New York City, was found shot to death in the 700 block of Woodlow Street, in Crafton Heights, by officers who were responding to multiple reports of shots being fired. Williams was pronounced dead at the scene. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing.
June Homicides (8)
JUNE 2—Shaquan Johnson, a 20-year-old Black male from Homewood, was found with multiple gunshot wounds by Pittsburgh Police who responded to a call of a shooting in the 7900 block of Inglenook Place in Homewood. He was taken to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital where he died hours later. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing.
JUNE 9—Desmond Nowlin, a 21-year-old Black male from Rankin, was fatally shot in the abdomen during a drive-by shooting near the intersection of Jones and Baldridge Avenues in North Braddock. He was taken to UPMC Mercy where he later died. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing.
JUNE 10—Seneca Byrd, a 38-year-old Black male from McKeesport, was fatally shot outside of Tube City Café on Fifth Avenue in McKeesport after an altercation inside the bar. Byrd and alleged shooter Rahman Shaw reportedly continued their argument outside when shots were fired. Shaw is charged with criminal homicide and is currently awaiting trial.
JUNE 14—Adrionna Williams, a 3-year-old Black female from Wilkinsburg, was found dead in a shallow ravine near Chalmers Way, in Swissvale. The girl was reported missing to Wilkinsburg police and found by a person walking a dog, less than an hour later. Her cause of death was asphyxiation. Adriene Williams, the toddler’s mother, has been charged with criminal homicide, abuse of a corpse, tampering with evidence and more. She is currently awaiting trial.
JUNE 15—Jerit Love, a 32-year-old Black male from Wilkins Township, was shot and killed in his Wilkins Township home, in the 600 block of Highland Avenue, all while his children were in the house. It has been reported that Love had gone to another part of the house with one of two men who were visiting and was shot. Love was able to make it to another part of the home before he collapsed and died. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing.
JUNE 16—Thomas Nicholson, an 81-year-old White male from Kennedy Township, was found dead and bound at his hands and feet in the bedroom of his home on Fairhaven Road in Kennedy Township. He reportedly died from injuries he suffered during a home invasion. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing.
JUNE 22—Tyrone Harris Jr., a 20-year-old Black male from the South Side, was fatally shot by a police officer during a crime spree that allegedly included firing a gun at civilians in the area of Jucunda Street in Knoxville, carjacking a vehicle, a police chase along Route 51 and an exchange of gun fire with police. Harris was hit when officers returned gunfire. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The incident is being investigated. The officer was placed on leave, which is protocol. (The Allegheny County Office of the Medical Examiner records identify Harris as Tyrone Harris.)
JUNE 23—Mark Williams, a 34-year-old Black male from the North Side, was fatally shot multiple times in the 2100 block of Koerner Avenue in the Perry South area of the North Side. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing.
May Homicides (10)
MAY 7—Valerie Crumpton, a 72-year-old Black female from East Hills, was found beaten to death in her home in the 500 block of Karl Street in East Hills. Her granddaughter, Tionna Banks, was also found dead. Authorities found the two while conducting a wellness check that was requested after Banks did not report to a social service appointment. Cesar Mazza, Banks’ estranged boyfriend, has been charged with homicide and kidnapping. He is awaiting trial. (Identified as Valorie Crumpton by the Allegheny County Office of the Medical Examiner.)
MAY 7—Tionna Banks, a 19-year-old from East Hills, was found beaten to death, along with her grandmother, Valerie Crumpton, in Crumpton’s Karl Street home in East Hills. The two were found when authorities conducted a wellness check after receiving reports that Banks did not show up for a social service appointment. Banks had recently been threatened by her estranged boyfriend, the father of her then-2-month-old child. Cesar Mazza, Banks’ estranged boyfriend, has been charged with homicde and kidnapping. He is awaiting trial. .
MAY 10—Jamar Thomas, a 20-year-old Black male from Hazelwood, was fatally shot outside an apartment building, in the 500 block of Collins Avenue in East Liberty, where he had been visiting. He reportedly had gotten into an altercation with Brett Terry prior to the shooting. Terry is charged with criminal homicide along with other charges. He is awaiting trial.
MAY 13—Christopher Katchur, a 52-year-old White male from McKeesport, was fatally shot in the back in his McKeesport home in the 3100 block of Orchard Street. He reportedly had just obtained an emergency protection from abuse order against his wife, Patricia Katchur. She allegedly had entered the home through a window, fell asleep, woke up when her husband came home and got into a dispute. Patricia Katchur is charged with criminal homicide. She is awaiting trial.
MAY 15—Mikal Francis, a 32-year-old Black male from New Jersey, was found shot multiple times in the 7100 block of Idlewild Street in Homewood. He was taken to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital where he later died. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing.
MAY 16—Darius Williams, a 40-year-old Black male from Jefferson Hills, was fatally shot in his Roberts Drive home, in Jefferson Hills, during a dispute with the man his female live-in companion had brought home. The woman reportedly picked up Trenton Knight, brought him to the home, and an altercation ensued when Williams returned home. Knight had allegedly been hiding in a bedroom and fired shots when Williams opened the door. Knight is charged with criminal homicide and firearm violation.
MAY 16—Deontay Hamilton, a 34-year-old Black male from Braddock, was fatally stabbed at a home in the 500 block of Pine Way in Braddock during a domestic dispute with his girlfriend. Hamilton was taken to UPMC Mercy Hospital where he later died. It is unknown if the woman has been charged.
MAY 17—Kelvin Lovelace, a 14-year-old Black male from Wilkinsburg, was fatally shot while attending a party in the East Hills Housing Complex on East Hills Drive. Reportedly, a group of hundreds were standing outside when a car drove up and fired shots into the crowd. Lovelace was taken to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital where he later died. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing. (Identified as Kevin Lovelace by the Allegheny County Office of the Medical Examiner.)
MAY 20—Jaymon Gandy, a 21-year-old Black male from Homestead, was shot to death while walking down Mifflin Street in Homestead. He reportedly had been walking when a car drove up and several individuals got out of the car and fired multiple shots. He was pronounced dead at the scene. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing.
MAY 20—Harrison Shaffer, a 68-year-old White male from Forward Township, was fatally shot in his home on Pine Avenue in Forward Township. His nephew, Billy Joe Richter, had allegedly entered his home looking for money. Shaffer called the police. Richter was arrested after a standoff that lasted for hours ended. Richter is charged with homicide, burglary, aggravated assault and more. He is awaiting trial.
<!–nextpage–>
April Homicides (8)
APRIL 4—Isaac Cameron, a 23-year-old Black male from West Mifflin, was shot multiple times during a home invasion on Maple Avenue in West Mifflin. Cameron, who lived at the residence with his mother, died at the scene. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing.
APRIL 5—Christopher Richardson, a 20-year-old Black male from West Oakland, was shot in the torso while driving a vehicle with two other passengers on Dinwiddie Street in the Hill District. He was found near the scene, in an alley. He was pronounced dead at the scene. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing.
APRIL 12—John Stefano, a 23-year-old from Turtle Creek, was fatally shot in an apartment in the Northern Pike Garden Apartment complex located in the 3900 block of Monroeville Boulevard. He was taken to Forbes Regional Hospital; where he later died. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing.
APRIL 21—Trula Dobbins, a 35-year-old Black male from Hill District, was shot in the chest and torso while at a bar in the 2400 block of Webster Avenue, in the Hill District, after an argument erupted. He was taken to UPMC Mercy Hospital where he later died. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing.
APRIL 23—Dion Turner, a 21-year-old Black male from Swissvale, was found fatally shot on the sidewalk in the 3000 block of Ward Street in South Oakland. Another man was also injured. Turner was pronounced dead at the scene. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing.
APRIL 24—Derrick Owens, a 30-year-old Black male from Pittsburgh, was fatally shot in the 1300 block of Columbus Avenue, in Manchester, while standing outside of his vehicle talking to passengers inside when a man walked up, shot him and continued on. Owens reportedly got back into the vehicle where he was found by authorities. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Rayshawn Austin is charged with homicide and gun violations. He is awaiting trial.
APRIL 25—Justin Ballard, a 26-year-old White male from McKees Rocks, was fatally shot in the back while in the Third Street Park near Third and Amelia Streets in McKees Rocks. He was taken to Allegheny Hospital where he died hours later. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing.
APRIL 26—Robert Sellmon II, a 63-year-old Black male from Braddock Hills, was found dead with multiple stab wounds in the bedroom of his home on Illinois Avenue in Braddock Hills. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Sellmon was allegedly stabbed by Darrell Carter, his cousin’s ex-lover who was reportedly upset that his ex had left him and moved in with Sellmon. Other reports state that authorities found Carter nearby with bloody clothes and knife in his pocket. Carter is charged with homicide, burglary and more. He is currently in Allegheny County Jail awaiting his trial.
March Homicides
MARCH 3—John Scaine, a 23-year-old Black male from Braddock, was shot multiple times, including in the head, while walking near the intersection of Upland Street and North Lang Avenue in Homewood. He was taken to a local hospital where he later died. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing.
MARCH 5—Garrick Marshman, a 19-year-old Black male from North Braddock, was found dead with multiple gunshot wounds in the backseat of a vehicle in the 3200 block of Mt. Lebanon Church Road in West Mifflin. He had been riding with three other individuals. Deandre Smith, one of the passengers, allegedly shot Marshman and is charged with homicide and weapons violations. He is awaiting trial.
MARCH 21—Jacquelyn Bush, a 25-year-old Black female from Bellevue, was found dead in the basement of a home she was visiting on Courtright Street in Marshall-Shadeland. She had a gunshot wound to the buttocks. Charles Miles is charged with homicide. He is awaiting trial.
MARCH 23—Justin Clark, a 16-year-old Black male from Penn Hills, was fatally shot on Trefoil Court in Monroeville. He was taken to Forbes Hospital where he later died. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing.
MARCH 26—Isaiah Coleman, a 19-year-old Black male from Wilmerding, was fatally shot in the chest while at a home on Airbrake Avenue in Wilmerding. Coleman was at the home when he got into an altercation with Chaz White. He was pronounced dead at the scene. White allegedly shot Coleman and is charged with criminal homicide and carrying a firearm without a license. Another man is charged with weapons violation and tampering with evidence in connection with Coleman’s death. They are both awaiting their trial.
February Homicides
FEB. 7—William Jeffries, a 50-year-old Black male from Penn Hills, was found dead with multiple gunshot wounds in his Frankstown Road home in Penn Hills. He was pronounced dead at the scene. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing.
FEB. 17—Deion Nesbitt, a 24-year-old Black male from East Liberty, was fatally shot during an altercation at the Rendezvous Phase III bar, located at 7232 Hamilton Ave., in Homewood. Nesbitt had been working as a security guard when he got into an altercation with a patron who had a gun. Three other individuals got involved and Nesbitt was shot. An unknown female security guard was shot as well. Nesbitt died upon arriving at a local hospital. Harvey Scott Jr., the alleged shooter, along with Tiqwan Green, Eric McGuire and Kevin Ford are charged with criminal homicide and a host of other charges.
FEB. 20—Brandon Barley, a 60-year-old Black male from McKeesport, was found dead with a gunshot wound to the trunk in an alley near the 3900 block of Jennylind Street in McKeesport. Two people were seen leaving the scene. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing.
January Homicides
JAN. 2—Davonte Stevenson, a 19-year-old Black male from the North Side, was found lying in the street near the intersection of Manhattan Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, in Manchester, with a gunshot wound to the chest. Stevenson had been walking when a vehicle pulled up and shots rang out. He was taken to Allegheny General Hospital where he later died. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing.
JAN. 4—Joseph Adu-Marfo, a 22-year-old Black male from McKees Rocks, died from a fatal shot to the lower extremities after being shot in the 3100 block of McClure Street in the North Side. He had shown up at Allegheny General Hospital where he later died. No one has been charged, the investigation is ongoing.
JAN. 6—Leslie Sapp, a 47-year-old Black male from Knoxville, was fatally shot by officers who were at his Redlyn Street home in Knoxville, to arrest him on charges of rape, Statutory sex, and more. He allegedly confronted officers with an air gun that looked real upon their entry. It has been reported that officers did not know the gun was not real. No charges have been filed.
JAN. 13—Nicholas Grant, a 16-year-old White male from Carrick, died days after being choked and beaten with a vacuum during a fight at Circle C Youth and Family Services group home on Noblestown Road in Carrick. On Jan 10, teens Yusuf Shepard and Malik Crosby allegedly put Grant in a chokehold while the other beat him with the vacuum. Grant was taken to UPMC Mercy Hospital where he died days later. The two were charged as adults with homicide and aggravated assault, among other things. They are awaiting trial.
JAN. 20—-Thomas McClelland, a 56-year-old Black male from East Liberty, was fatally shot multiple times outside of Shuman Market near Frankstown and North Homewood Avenues in Homewood. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing.
JAN. 20—William Doyle, a 24-year-old White male from McKeesport, was found dead after a shooting on Brownlee Street in the Crawford Village Housing Complex in McKeesport. Doyle was chased by two men who opened fire on him. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities have charged Jonathan Coles and Roman Jones with homicide, attempted homicide, aggravated assault and more. Jones is awaiting trial and Coles is still at large.
JAN. 23—Edwin Hammond, a 33-year-old Black male from Penn Hills was found fatally shot multiple times inside his home on Joan Drive in Penn Hills. He was taken to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital where he later died. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing.
JAN. 27—Anthony Garland, a 31-year-old Black male from Wilkinsburg, was shot to death and robbed in his Wilkinsburg Apartment on Kelly Avenue. Two males reportedly told Garland they were there to purchase marijuana, but actually intended to rob him. They allegedly shot him, took the drugs and a gaming console. Troy Miller and James Meek, who lives in Garland’s building, have been charged with homicide, robbery, conspiracy and more. They are awaiting trial.
JAN. 29—Stephon Reed, a 29-year-old Black male from East Liberty, was found shot to death in the backseat of a vehicle near Route 51. Reed and four other individuals had been in the vehicle when someone began firing shots into it. Authorities reportedly were answering a call to shots fired when they saw the vehicle with Reed speeding away and began to chase it. When the vehicle stopped that’s when officers found Reed. It’s believed the individuals were trying to take him to a nearby hospital. No one has been charged; the investigation is ongoing.
JAN. 29—Chalaiai Chaihirunkarn, a 26-year-old Asian female from North Oakland, was found shot to death in the bedroom of her North Oakland apartment at 230 N. Craig Street. She had multiple gunshot wounds to her head and chest and was found by authorities that were conducting a well-being check. It’s believed her boyfriend, Bryan Springer, killed her and then himself. He was also found dead in the apartment. The incident has been ruled a murder-suicide.
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
