37 of 43 homicides Black lives in 2019—11 of 12 June victims were Black

by Christian Morrow, Courier Staff Writer

With another 11 homicides in Allegheny County, June has tied May as the deadliest month of the year, but with 10 of those homicide victims being African Americans, June alone is now the deadliest month for Blacks so far. The New Pittsburgh Courier will continue to publish the names of the sons, daughters, parents, husbands and wives whose lives were cut short in hopes that the community will stand up and demand a stop to the violence:

JUNE 1—Jordan Emanuel Lewis, a 22-year-old Black male, was shot multiple times on the porch of a home in the 7500 block of Ellesmere Avenue in Swissvale. According to Allegheny County Police, Charlton Mitchell, 21, admitted to shooting the victim who, during a party earlier in the evening, had taken Mitchell’s gun from him and threatened to shoot him if he didn’t leave. Mitchell said he retrieved a semi-automatic rifle he’d placed in the bushes behind a nearby business, returned and shot Lewis. A 19-year-old female and a 24-year-old male were also injured by bullet fragments during the shooting. Mitchell is in the Allegheny County Jail.

JUNE 2—Ciquann Dudley Jr., a 17-year-old Black male was found in the 1300 block of Tube Works Alley in McKeesport with multiple gunshot wounds and pronounced dead at the scene. Allegheny County Police said in a press release they do not know yet why the victim was in such a remote location, nor do they have a motive. The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information is asked to call the Tipline at 1-833-255-8477.

JUNE 3—David Herbin, a 49-year-old Black male was inside a home on Laketon Road in Wilkinsburg with a gunshot wound to the head. He died later at the hospital. Police have issued an arrest warrant for Tariq Price, 39, who was recently released from jail. Price faces robbery and homicide charges.

JUNE 11—Marion White, a 49-year-old Black male, was fatally shot after an argument escalated and Alonzo Terrel Glen, 27, shot him four times. Glen turned himself in to police a week later. He is now in the county jail.

JUNE 12—Tyrese Smith, a 20-year-old Black male, and Alexus N. Chester, a 17-year-old Black female who was celebrating her birthday, were both killed when an as yet unidentified person opened fire at a house rented for the party on McNeil Place in Pittsburgh’s Upper Hill neighborhood. Anyone with information is asked to call Pittsburgh Homicide detectives at 412-323-7161.

JUNE 17—Whiney Maleeca Lyn Boyer, a 25-yer-old Black female, was discovered in the basement of a Maple Street house in East Pittsburgh, after 28-year-old Delrico McClinton confessed the crime to a counsellor at the Cambria County Prison.

JUNE 21—Kaine Williams, a 34-year-old Black male, was killed in the 1800 block of Sumac Street in McKeesport when Marcus Acie-Griffin, 26, got out of his white Acura with a shotgun and fired at Williams. Acie-Griffin was taken into custody after leading police on a chase through several communities before crashing over a hill in West Mifflin. He is now in the county jail.

JUNE 21—Gerald Dwain Walker, a 41-year-old Black male, was discovered bleeding from multiple stab wounds at a home in the 2100 block of Perrysville Avenue in Pittsburgh’s Perry, he dies later at the hospital. Maneca Pressley, 29, was arrested less than a day later and charged in his death. According to the criminal complaint, the couple had been arguing all day. Pressley told police Walker had assaulted her multiple times. The last time he lunged at her, she stabbed him then called 911. She is currently in the county jail.

JUNE 25—Corey Laguardia, a 22-year-old White male, was shot multiple times by a homeowner after he forced his way into a house in the 1000 block of Starr Road in Crescent Township. No charges have been filed.

JUNE 26—Christian St. John Jenkins, a 27-year-old Black male was found with multiple gunshot wounds lying in Truax Way in Pittsburgh’s Troy Hill neighborhood. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Within minutes, police also responded to a second shooting a block away on Lowrie Street. That victim was last reported in critical but stable condition at a local hospital. Police have not said if the shootings are related, nor have they identified a suspect. Anyone with information is asked to call Pittsburgh Homicide detectives at 412-323-7161.

May Homicides (12)

MAY 1—Jakeem Booker, a 19-year-old Black male, was fatally shot while trying to force his way into a Franklin Avenue home in Wilkinsburg over a dispute with one of the occupants. Police found him on the porch with a gunshot wound to the head. Allegheny County detectives said a 17-year-old in the house feared for his family and fired one shot though the partially open door. No charges have been filed.

MAY 8—Bryan Jackson, a 31-year-old Black male, was found fatally shot in a home at 127 McKinnie Ave. in Stowe Town ship after giving 25-year-old Terrence Murphy a tattoo. County police found and arrested Murphy at a house in Ambridge later that day. He is currently in the county jail awaiting trial.

MAY 12—Luke Connolly, a 51-year-old White male, was found fatally stabbed multiple times in an apartment on Third Avenue in Carnegie. A woman who was in the apartment was also stabbed before fleeing to get help. She remains hospitalized. Police arrested 58-year-old Richard Mickens at a home on Spikenard Street in Scott, where he allegedly assaulted another person with a knife, May 15. He is charged with homicide, attempted homicide, aggravated assault, rape, and several other charges. He is in the county jail awaiting trial.

MAY 15—Ivan Walls, a 45-year-old Black male from Philadelphia, was discovered by police after being shot multiple times behind a house on Karl Avenue in Duquesne. He died later at the hospital. County detectives said the victim and another man had just arrived at the house when shots were fired. Police are searching for the second man and have not yet identified a suspect. Anyone with information is asked to call the Tipline at 833-255-8477.

UPDATE MAY 15—Surron Burch, 21 has been arrested and charged with vehicular homicide and involuntary manslaughter in the April 28 hit-and-run dragging death of Joseph Morris, a 51-year-old White male, on Hershey Avenue in Penn Hills. County detectives say Burch was driving a car belonging to 21-year-old Modesty Harper when he struck Morris and dragged him a half-mile to Universal Road. Uber driver Ulysses Coto discovered the abandoned car at a McKeesport public housing complex and alerted police, who traced it to Harper. She is charged with hindering Burch’s apprehension. Burch remains in the county jail.

MAY 19—Aris Payto Barclay Vann, a 22-year-old Black male, was found with multiple gunshot wounds on the porch of a home in the 2200 block of Woodstock Avenue in Swissvale. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Allegheny County Homicide Inspector Andrew Schurman said the victim was there to visit friends and may have been the target of a robbery attempt. Anyone with information is asked to call the Tipline at 833-255-8417.

MAY 24—Morgan Dunston, a 17-year-old Black female, was fatally shot in the parking lot of the Hot Metal Bridge Faith Community Church on the South Side. Police do not believe she was the intended target. Anyone with information is asked to call Pittsburgh homicide detectives at 412-323-7161.

MAY 24—Michael McDonald, a 51-year-old White male, was killed when he barged into the Robinson Township home of a man he allegedly owed money to. The homeowner fired his shotgun, hitting McDonald in the chest. As yet, no charges have been filed.

MAY 26—Ernest Dixon, a 31-year-old Black Male, was fatally shot inside Shooters Bar on Island Avenue in Stowe Township after getting into an argument with another patron.

MAY 27—Isaac Harrison, a 34-year-old Black male, was fatally shot on Chauncey Drive in the Hill District after an argument escalated into gunfire. A 15-year-old girl was also wounded in the foot in the incident. Pittsburgh police have not yet identified a suspect. Anyone with information is asked to call Pittsburgh homicide detectives at 412-323-7161.

MAY 28—William Mosby, a 62-year-old Black male, was found with fatal gunshot wounds by city police in a parking lot off Forest Way near Collier Street in Homewood. The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call Pittsburgh homicide detectives at 412-323-7161.

MAY 28—Richard Lee Greene, a 35-year-old Black male, was found by city police lying on Chartiers Avenue in Sheraden. He had been shot multiple times and died at the scene. The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call Pittsburgh homicide detectives at 412-323-7161.

April Homicides (6)

APRIL 3—Vernon Lee Owens III, a 33-year-old Black male, was fatally shot by a 72-year-old jitney driver during an attempted armed robbery in Duquesne. According to police, shortly after the driver picked up Owens and another passenger, he struck the driver with his gun and demanded money. When they both got out of the car, the driver shot Owens with his own gun. The other passenger fled. Police have determined that the driver legally owned the gun used in the shooting and had a valid concealed-carry permit. No charges will be filed.

APRIL 7—Alison Fritzius, a 55-year-old White female, was found fatally stabbed on the porch of a home in the 800 block of Broadway Boulevard in Pitcairn. Police charged her boyfriend, Derrick Avant, in her death. He is awaiting trial in the Allegheny County Jail.

APRIL 8—Mark Jackson, a 39-year-old Black male, was found shot in the face in a house in the 600 block of Winfield Street in Larimer. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Police have charged Robert Harper in the shooting. Harper was already in the county jail on unrelated criminal charges.

APRIL 10—Bradley Lucier, a 23-year-old White male, was found by first responders shot multiple times at a house in the 1000 block of Dohrman Street in Stowe Township. He died at the hospital. On April 15, 18- year-old Tomichael Sherrell turned himself in after police issued a warrant charging Sherrell had shot Lucier during a robbery. Sherrell is now in the county Jail.

APRIL 13—Ameer Coleman, a 19-year-old Black male, was found fatally shot inside a house in the 200 block of Fern Street in Garfield. Police have not yet identified a suspect. The investigation continues. Anyone with information is asked to call Pittsburgh homicide detectives at 412-323-7161.

APRIL 26—Armani Ford, a 23-year-old Black male, was found by police fatally shot in a house in the 800 block of Vankirk Street in Clairton. County detectives have not yet identified a suspect and are asking anyone with information to call the Tipline at 1-833-255-8477.

March Homicides (4)

MARCH 15—Leslie Robertson, a 72-year-old Black male, was killed when he was struck by a car driven by Jakiia Williams, 33, outside the Harrison Village housing complex in McKeesport. Williams allegedly told police she was trying to run down someone else and hit the wrong person. She is now in the Allegheny County Jail.
MARCH 18—Daniel Carpenter, a 42-year-old Black male, died in the hospital one day after being shot while sitting in his car on Shetland Street in Larimer in the middle of the afternoon. Despite eyewitnesses and possible surveillance footage, Pittsburgh police have not yet identified a suspect. Anyone with information is urged to call 412-323-7161.

MARCH 28—Calvin Walker, a 39-year-old Black male, was fatally shot when he and another man got into an argument over a parking space with Neil Chandler, 42, on West Oak Street in Homestead. Police said Chandler shot both men during the altercation. Walker died later at the hospital; the other man was treated and released. Chandler is in the Allegheny County Jail.

MARCH 30—Andre Jordan, a 41-year-old Black male, was found by Pittsburgh police and emergency responders with multiple gunshot wounds in a hallway of an apartment in the 3000 block of Cordell Place in Arlington. He was taken to UPMC Mercy where he died from his injuries. Police are asking anyone with information to call 412-323-7161.

MARCH 30—Kenneth Baptiste Jr., a 27-year-old Black male, was found by Pittsburgh police and emergency responders with a gunshot wound to the chest in the 800 block of Murtland Avenue in Homewood. He was transported to UPMC Presbyterian but died from his wounds. The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call Pittsburgh Homicide at 412-323-7161.

February Homicides (4)

FEB. 2—Tre-Quan Embry, a 22-year-old Black male, was shot multiple times in the head on East 17th Street in Homestead. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Allegheny County detectives have not yet identified a suspect and ask anyone with information to call the Tipline at 1-833-255-8477.

FEB. 4—Aaron Wade, an 18-year-old Black male from Munhall, was found lying in the front yard of a home on Plymouth Street in Duquesne Heights with multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Pittsburgh homicide detectives have not yet identified a suspect. Anyone with information is asked to call 412-323-7800.

FEB. 18—Norman Clarence Manuel, a 37-year-old Black male, was discovered by medics lying in the street in the 400 block of Enright Court in East Liberty with a gunshot wound to the chest. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Anyone with information is asked to call Pittsburgh homicide detectives at 412-323-7800.

FEB. 25—Wilbert Barber, a 58-year-old Black male, was fatally shot when answering the doorbell of a home in the 300 block of Fifth Avenue in Rankin. County police said the killers fired through the door, hitting him twice. They have not yet identified any suspects. Anyone with information is asked to call the Tipline at 1-833-255-8477.

January Homicides (5)

JAN. 9—Jonathan Freeman, a 16-year-old Black male, was fatally shot when bullets tore through the wall of a friend’s house in the 7300 block of Susquehanna Street in Homewood where he’d gone to play video games. Pittsburgh police have not yet identified a suspect. Anyone with information is asked to call 412-323-7800.

JAN. 11—Josiah Battle-Davis, a 26-year-old Black male was murdered in Hazelwood.

JAN. 14—Tremaine Solomon, a 30-year-old Black male, was found by Wilkinsburg police shot multiple times lying in the street in the 1500 block of Marlboro Avenue. He died at the hospital three hours later. The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call the Allegheny County police tipline at 1-833-255-8477.

JAN. 23–Heather Short, a 46-year-old White female from West Mifflin, was found dead in Sewickley Twp.

JAN. 26—Paul McMillan, a 48-year-old White male, was shot multiple times in the parking lot of The Lounge on Verona in Penn Hills after getting into a fight with another man inside the bar, according to Allegheny County police. Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to the tipline at 1-833-255-8477.

 

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