A decrease in the number of murders through the first four months of 2008 from last year’s number of 44 through April is little cause for relief.
Although the number of homicides in April was only six, compared to 11 the month before, the murder of an innocent 12-year-old boy in broad daylight, with no witnesses coming forward was disheartening. How can police be expected to help stop this senseless carnage if the community will not come forward with valuable information?
As part of an ongoing effort to heighten awareness about the effects of murder in the Black community, 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-image of the region’s Black neighborhoods.
Last year, 13 lives were lost in the month of April (11 of them Black, nine of them male); in 2006 there were five homicides, three of them Black men.
Out of the 35 murders so far in 2008—26 were Black and 23 of that number were Black men.
April Homicides (6)
APRIL 11—David Freeman Jr., a 34-year-old Black male from McKees Rocks, was shot in the head on Grant Street, Downtown, while he was a passenger in a vehicle with two other friends after leaving a club in the Strip District. It is suspected to be gang related. In 1998 Freeman was involved in an unrelated incident where he and another person were charged with criminal homicide. However, charges were dropped when witnesses failed to show up at the preliminary hearing. This investigation is still ongoing.
APRIL 11—Dustin Tolliver, an 18-year-old Black male from Lincoln-Lemington, was shot and killed when a retired police officer found him and two others in the middle of a burglary at the officer’s daughter’s home in the 6400 block of Apple Street. One person escaped and the other was wounded and was listed in critical condition. The officer has turned in his gun and permit until the end of the investigation.
APRIL 19—Kholen Germany, a 12-year-old Black male from Wilkinsburg, was struck with a stray bullet during a gun fight in the 100 block of Wood Street in Wilkinsburg, at the Head 2 Toe clothing store. He ran into the store to seek safety and was hit. He was taken to UMPC Children’s Hospital where he later died. Donald Wilson has been arrested and charged with firing toward the store. Police are searching for a second suspect. The investigation is ongoing.
APRIL 20—Darrell Nelson, a 26-year-old Black male from Monroeville, was found shot in a Hill District apartment in the 2500 block of Chauncey Drive and taken to UPMC Mercy Hospital, where he later died. Police are questioning a juvenile.
APRIL 22—Aaron Jenkins, a 37-year-old Black male from East Hills, was off duty as a state constable, when he was shot outside Club 22 Rendezvous in Homewood when he and another person were walking to their car. It does not seem to be a job related incident. The investigation is ongoing.
APRIL 23—Shaelon Henderson, a 20-year-old Black male from Hazelwood, was fatally stabbed during an argument in front of his home on Almeda Street. He was taken to UPMC Presbyterian hospital, where he later died. Police have charged Lawrence Davis Jr. with homicide. It is unknown what the argument was about.
January Homicides (14)
JAN. 7—Shawn Robinson, a 32-year-old Black male from the Hill District, was shot after an argument ensued when two men forced their way into an apartment at 2109 Elmore Square. No suspects have been arrested. The investigation is still ongoing.
JAN. 9—Vernon Hayden, a 71-year-old white male from Elizabeth Township, was found after being reported missing weeks ago. It is not known when he actually died. The cause of death was a gunshot wound and blunt force trauma to the head. Hayden’s step-grandson, Timothy Large, has been arrested and charged with homicide. He waived his right to a preliminary hearing and is awaiting trial.
JAN. 11—Paris Tatum, an 18-year-old Black male from the Hill District, was fatally shot in the chest on Elmore Street when a white sedan pulled up, men got out and shot Tatum. He ran to a store owned by his aunt and was taken to UPMC Presbyterian where he later died. A warrant has been issued for Orlando Hamilton, 18. He has not been arrested yet. The investigation is still ongoing.
JAN. 13—Randy Edwards, a 26-year-old Black male from North Braddock, was shot multiple times on Ridge Avenue during a burglary. He was taken to Mercy Hospital, where he later died. An arrest warrant has been issued for Bryant Jones, 20. He is being charged with homicide, burglary and robbery. The suspect is still at large.
JAN. 15—Martha Hucko, a 61-year-old white female from Brentwood, was found dead in her home on Colonial Park Drive, along with her husband, when police were called to the residents after relatives were unable to reach the couple. Reportedly, there were no incidents of foul play and she was found to have needle marks on her arm. Police are unsure if they took their own life or were killed. The investigation is still ongoing.
JAN. 18—Robert Kennedy, a 29-year-old Black male from West Mifflin, was found dead at the scene in his van with multiple gunshots at the 400 block of B-Street in West Mifflin Estates apartment complex. A warrant has been issued for Andre Berry of Duquesne. He is charged with criminal homicide, armed robbery, and witness intimidation. Berry is still at large.
JAN. 21—Richard Revis, a 71-year-old Black male from Mt. Oliver, was found dead in his home in the 300 block of Hays Avenue, with stab wounds. The investigation is still ongoing.
JAN. 22—Michael Tatalovich, a 20-year-old white male from Aliquippa, was fatally shot at the Settler’s Place Apartment in North Fayette. Tatalovich was an economics major at Robert Morris University. Police have arrested H. Paul Visnansky, who confessed to killing Tatalovich and another when he found them in his girlfriend’s apartment. He also seriously injured his girlfriend. Visnansky is awaiting trial.
JAN. 22—Jonathan Gilbert, a 22-year-old white male who attended Robert Morris University, was fatally shot when Visnansky also found Gilbert at his girlfriend’s apartment. Gilbert was an elementary education major at the school. Visnansky is awaiting trial.
JAN. 23—James Penn, a 30-year-old Black male from Wilkinsburg, was shot multiple times in front of the Second Time Around Bar in Homestead. The investigation is still ongoing.
JAN. 25—Raymonn Gilmore, a 24-year-old Black male from Clairton, was fatally shot in the chest outside of a local bar, the Sportman’s Bar and Grill, on State Street in Clairton. He was taken to a local hospital where he later died. No suspects have been arrested. The investigation is still ongoing.
JAN. 26—Gemayel Keen Jr., a 23-year-old Black male from Pittsburgh, died of a gunshot wound to the chest in a McDonald’s parking lot in the Strip District. He was taken to UPMC Mercy, where he later died. No suspects have been arrested. The investigation is still ongoing.
JAN. 28—Jolsea Barber, a 12-year-old Black female from Brighton Heights, was struck when gunmen opened fire into a house where she was visiting her sister with her mother. She was taken to Allegheny General Hospital, where she later died. Police found about 40 shots. Anthony “Tone Bone” Wilson, 30, and Michael Gist, 15, were arrested and charged with homicide and aggravated assault. Gist was also charged with conspiracy. Police suspect that gang retaliation might be the cause of the shooting. Both suspects are awaiting trial.
JAN. 29—Ernest Tolliver, a 15-year-old Black male from Homewood, was shot in the neck, while in the drive-thru of the Kentucky Fried Chicken parking lot in the 7200 block of Frankstown Road. He was taken to UPMC Presbyterian, where he was later pronounced dead. No suspects have been named. The investigation is still ongoing.
February Homicides (4)
FEB. 9—Gary Dennison, a 64-year-old white male from Coraopolis, was shot to death by an Allegheny County police officer in the 100 block of South Patton Drive, when he tried to use his vehicle as a weapon when failing to pull over for a traffic violation. The officer has remained unidentified, but an investigation into the incident is ongoing.
FEB. 25—Lori Robinson, a 43-year-old white female from Lawrenceville, was fatally shot to death with a rifle by her live in boyfriend, William Bowcock, in their apartment over the Partners Bar, on 46th Street in Lawrenceville. Bowcock called the police to report the incident and then shot himself. The case has been ruled a murder-suicide.
FEB. 25—Geno Crenshaw, a 30-year-old Black male from Mt. Washington, was fatally stabbed in the chest by his live in girlfriend at their home in the 400 block of Kingsboro Street, after a domestic incident. He was taken to UPMC Mercy, where he later died. Patrice Rogers has been arrested and charged with criminal homicide. She is still awaiting trial.
FEB. 27—Cheryl Wilds, a 47-year-ol Black female from the North Side, was found dead in her Shadyside Nursing Rehabilitation Center room after being in a comma since November when she had been shot by her son’s friend. Jayquan Massey, 18, was charged with attempted homicide when he hit Wilds, while shooting at an SUV, when she stepped off the bus with her Thanksgiving groceries. Charges will be amended since Wilds has passed. He is still awaiting trial.
March Homicides (11)
MARCH 1—Marvin Hayden, a 29-year-old Black male from the North Side, was accidentally shot in the neck and chest by a Yellow Cab driver after he reportedly tried to rob the driver in the Hill District after being picked up Downtown. When Harden tried to rob him, the driver pulled out his licensed weapon and a struggle ensued. During the struggle, Harden was shot and the driver was hit in the arm. No charges have been filed against the driver.
MARCH 10—Anthony Johnson Jr., a 31-year-old Black male from Wilkinsburg, was fatally shot in the chest in the Uptown area. He was later found on 33 Pride St., near the UPMC Mercy Hospital emergency room. He was pronounced dead at the scene. No suspects have been named. The case is still under investigation.
MARCH 12—Dion McIntosh, a 27-year-old Black male from the Strip District, was killed after being shot outside the Manteca Bar at Monterey and Jacksonia streets on the North Side when he was at the bar with his brother. He was pronounced dead at the scene. No suspects have been named. The case is still under investigation.
MARCH 14—Kemoy Crawford, a 19-year-old Black male of Pittsburgh, was found shot and burned on Arbor and Point View streets in East Liberty. Firefighters received a call about a fire in a small dumping site. When they arrived they found a male body burned under a pile of debris. After the autopsy, Crawford was found to be shot and was recently identified. No suspects have been named.
MARCH 15—Tracy Lang, a 41-year-old white female of Pitcairn, was found shot to death in the parking lot of Don Pablo’s Restaurant in Monroeville by her husband, John Lang. She was shot after reportedly being seen kissing Louis Goldenson, a friend of the couple. They were all volunteer firefighters. Lang confessed and is awaiting trial for charges of homicide.
MARCH 15—Louis Goldenson, a 37-year-old white male from Pitcairn, was shot and killed when his friend, John Lang, reportedly found him kissing Lang’s wife, Tracy, at a restaurant. Lang is awaiting trial for charges of homicide.
MARCH 21—Angel Manguel, a 40-year-old Black male from East Liberty, was found shot at the intersection of 29th Street and Penn Avenue in the Strip District. Manguel was taken to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital, where he later died. The case is still under investigation.
MARCH 23—David Price, a 30-year-old white male from Clairfield County, was shot by police officers after he threw dirt and rocks at their unmarked car when they stopped to get fuel. When officers began to approach Price, he reportedly pulled out a handgun and shot one of them in the back. Police fired back and shot Price in the arms, chest, stomach and back. He was hit with seven bullets. He later died after being taken to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital for surgery. No charges have been brought against the officers.
MARCH 23—Shawnta Lee, a 40-year-old Black female from Clairton, was shot, along with her husband, in their Baker Avenue home. James Garland Watts, reportedly entered their home and shot them. She was taken to UPMC Mercy Hospital, where she later died. Her husband was in critical condition, but has since been upgraded. An arrest warrant has been issued for Watts’ arrest. The investigation is still ongoing.
MARCH 27—Richard White, a 23-year-old Black male from the North Side, was found face down in a parking lot in the 1300 block of Juniata Street in Manchester after police responded to a call about shots being fired across the street from a school. He had been shot three times and was pronounced dead at the scene. The incident is believed to be gang related. No suspects have been named and the investigation is still ongoing.
MARCH 30—John Allen, a 22-year-old Black male from Homewood, was fatally shot after an argument had begun when he tried to enter Mac Can Do’s Bar in Homewood after being banned. He was shot in the neck and taken to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital, where he later died. No arrests have been made and the case is still ongoing.