News Of Western Pennsylvania And The World
PITTSBURGH —
Pittsburgh Police have issued an arrest warrant for a man in connection to the fatal shooting of three people on New Year’s Eve in Homewood South.
Ronald Steave, 29, of Pittsburgh, is being charged with three counts of criminal homicide and possession.
Source: Man wanted in connection to triple homicide in Homewood South
Crystal Leschner’s family says boyfriend is responsible for her death.
PITTSBURGH —
Police have arrested a man in connection to the murder of a woman found dead in a shed behind a house in Pittsburgh’s Knoxville neighborhood.
Pittsburgh Police homicide detectives have arrested Montel Reed, 26, on charges of criminal homicide, tampering with evidence and abuse of a corpse Sunday evening.
Police were alerted to reports of human remains found in a shed behind a residence on the 300 block of Reifert Street around 4:30 p.m.
Early Sunday morning, the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s office identified the woman as Crystal Leschner, 38.
Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 talked with three of Leschner’s siblings. According to them, Reed physically abused their sister a few weeks ago.
“She had marks all over her face and as a brother, it’s hard to see your baby sister go through anything like that…I was hoping she didn’t go back, but apparently she went back,” said Joey Leschner.
Leschner’s sister, Kacey Gola, said it was not clear exactly when she died, but investigators told her sometime between Dec. 26 and New Year’s.
“She was found in a shed inside of a suitcase. She had been chopped up after she was dead,” Gola said.
All of Leschner’s siblings described her as a loving person and the fun aunt.
“She could never have kids, so she was the best aunt to all of her nieces and nephews…she was always right there. Even if we didn’t talk for a few weeks, months, if something happened, she was right there,” Gola said.
“A very kindhearted person. She would do anything for anyone which makes it even more hard to believe,” Joey Leschner said.
Now as Leschner’s family waits for more answers, they are determined to get justice for their sister.
“She needs justice for what happened, and he needs to be put away for a long time. He took away someone so special who we will never be able to get back. I’ll never be able to hug my sister,” said Chanel Warner.
Reed has been transported to Allegheny County Jail.
A criminal complaint obtained by Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 early Monday morning said Reed confessed to investigators that he stabbed Leschner several times on Dec. 27 during a domestic dispute, resulting in her death.
According to court documents, Reed was just in the Allegheny County Jail two days prior on a robbery charge for an incident on Jan. 1.
He was brought in to the Allegheny County Jail on Jan. 7 and was released the same day after posting a $5,000 bail.
Major Crimes Detectives and the Pittsburgh Crime Scene unit were called to the scene to collect evidence.
Neighbor Ronnie Davis said the scene was unsettling.
“I’m a single father, and I have two kids, and if it was a homicide, I need to know,” Davis said.
Pittsburgh Public Safety spokeswoman Cara Cruz said the investigation could take time.
“It is going to be a long investigation, of course. This is not usual. We are used to other things in the city, but this is definitely unusual,” Cruz said.
She said it was unclear at that point if the initial report came from someone who lives there.
Leschner’s family has set up a GoFundMe for expenses.
Source: Pittsburgh police arrest man in connection to human remains found in shed behind house
By: KDKA-TV News Staff
HARRISBURG (KDKA) – A Pennsylvania State Police trooper was taken into custody early on Saturday morning.
READ MORE:Woman Rushed To Hospital After Hit-And-Run In Homewood South
Trooper Scott Myers was arrested following an off-duty physical altercation in the early morning hours on Saturday at a home in Summerhill Township, Cambria County.
Myers is facing a felony charge along with multiple misdemeanor charges related to a physical altercation with another adult male.
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He is facing charges of aggravated assault, simple assault, terrorist threats, and harassment.
Myers has been suspended without pay pending the resolution of the criminal charges.
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Source: State Police Trooper Arrested In Off-Duty Physical Altercation – CBS Pittsburgh
Robbery happened on Tuesday afternoon
ALIQUIPPA, Pa. —
Two men were charged following an armed robbery outside of a pizza shop in Aliquippa, Beaver County.
The robbery happened around 4:30 p.m. Tuesday outside Villa Di Pizza on the 2500 block of Brodhead Road.
Source: Two charged in armed robbery outside pizza shop in Beaver County
By: KDKA-TV News Staff
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – Police are looking for an alleged robber who they said got off with cash after holding up a Sunoco in Oakland Monday morning.
READ MORE:Candlelight Vigil Held For 3 Victims Of Homewood New Year’s Eve Shooting
Police were called about a reported robbery at the Sunoco on Craft Avenue around 6:15 a.m.
READ MORE:Coronavirus-Related Staffing Shortages Pushes 17 Pittsburgh Public Schools Online
A witness told police the suspect walked into the store and demanded cash, saying he had a weapon on him. The witness didn’t see a weapon, police said, but the suspect kept a hand in his pocket.
He got away with an undisclosed amount of money.
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Police didn’t give a description of the suspect but said the investigation is ongoing.
Source: Robber Holds Up Sunoco In Oakland – CBS Pittsburgh
Three people are dead after a shooting in Pittsburgh’s Homewood South neighborhood early Friday.
The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office has identified the three people killed in Homewood South on Dec. 31 as Nandi Fitzgerald, 28, Denzel Nolan Jr., 13, and Tatiana Hill, 28.
A family member of two of the victims said that her sister and nephew were among the three. Wand Fitzgerald identified the mother and son as Nandi Fitzgerald and Denzel Nolan Jr.
Police are continuing to investigate. Details of any possible suspects have not been released.
Neighbors and community leaders, including Mayor-elect Ed Gainey met on Hamilton Avenue and Braddock Avenue to show their support for the victims’ families.
“We can’t go into the new year showing this is what we’re about. This is not us. We are a community of love,” Sheldon Oliver said.
Oliver organized what he called a “love gathering.”
“I never imagined it when I made a post asking what happened on Hamilton, I never knew we would have three victims murdered, so for me again I felt hurt,” said Amber Sloan, with the ‘MadeIt’ organization.
When police arrived to Hamilton Avenue around 4 a.m., they first found a woman who had been shot in the head. Then, while searching the house, SWAT officers found the two other victims. Medics pronounced all three dead at the scene.
Community leaders accepted donations for the family while gathering Friday night. GoFundMe pages have also been set up to raise money for the families of the victims.
“We’re just coming together to show strength in Pittsburgh as a community, as a people, as us,” Oliver said.
Source: 3 dead after shooting in Pittsburgh’s Homewood South
On Jan. 1, a victim was found dead of a fatal gunshot wound in Wilkinsburg. According to local LGBTQ advocacy group SisTers PGH, that victim was Amarey Lej, a 21-year-old Black trans woman.
Allegheny County Police have launched an investigation into the death, according to KDKA, but police did not identify her in the initial report. Police said they responded to the 1300 block of Wood Street in Wilkinsburg around 6 a.m. on Jan. 1 and found Lej’s body in the street.
“Amarey was a bright woman and former student at Woodland Hills. We at SisTers PGH would like to send her fellow classmates our deepest condolences, but also our deepest gratitude, as you rose in protection of Amarey when she needed it most,” reads a statement from SisTers PGH.
Source: Black trans woman found dead in Wilkinsburg | LGBTQ | Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh City Paper
An arrest warrant has been issued for a man police say is responsible for a shooting that took place in downtown Pittsburgh last month.
34-year-old Andre Davis has been charged with attempted homicide, aggravated assault, and weapons charges.
Police say witnesses told officers they heard two men arguing before the shooting.
Davis was later identified by witnesses and was seen on surveillance cameras driving away from the scene.
The victim was last listed in critical condition.
Source: Arrest Warrant Issued For Man Wanted In December Downtown Pittsburgh Shooting – CBS Pittsburgh
A 14-year-old boy was taken into Garland police custody Monday afternoon on suspicion of fatally shooting three people and injuring a fourth at a gas station Sunday evening.
The teen is the slender, shirtless person seen in surveillance camera footage opening the store’s front door and firing at least 20 rounds, Garland Police Chief Jeff Bryan said during a news conference Monday.
Source: 14-year-old boy taken into custody in fatal shootings of 3 teens at Garland gas station, police say
A gunman killed four people and wounded at least three others, including a police officer, during a series of shootings in the Denver area on Monday, the police said.
The suspect, whom the authorities did not immediately identify, died during a shootout.
The authorities were seeking a motive after the shootings, which occurred across several locations in and near Denver, Colorado’s capital. Paul M. Pazen, the Denver police chief, told reporters during a news conference: “This is the holiday season. To have this type of spree take place is not normal for our community.”
The shootings started shortly after 5 p.m. in central Denver, where two women were killed and a man was injured, Chief Pazen said.
Shortly afterward, a man was fatally shot several blocks away, the chief said, and police officers exchanged gunfire with a suspect during a pursuit.
The same suspect then fled to the nearby city of Lakewood, Chief Pazen said.Just before 6 p.m., the Lakewood Police Department received a report of shots fired at a business, John Romero, a spokesman for that department, told reporters during a joint news conference with Chief Pazen. A gunshot victim was later found and pronounced dead at the scene, Mr. Romero said, adding that police officers identified the car and the shooting suspect. They did not reveal his name.
When the officers found the car, the gunman opened fire, and officers shot back, Mr. Romero said. The gunman then fled on foot to a Hyatt hotel, where he is believed to have shot a clerk. He also shot and wounded a Lakewood police officer after he left the hotel.
The wounded officer was undergoing surgery, Mr. Romero said at the news conference. Paul Osckel, a spokesman for the Lakewood Police Department, said that he had no further information on the officer’s condition. The hotel clerk’s condition was not immediately clear as of Monday night.
Mr. Romero said the suspect was later shot in Lakewood and pronounced dead at the scene. It was not immediately clear if police officers had shot him.
Chief Pazen said that, based on preliminary information, the Denver Police Department believed that the same person was responsible for the shootings and the earlier shootout with the police.
A number of mass shootings have taken place in Colorado since two students at Columbine High School shocked the nation in 1999 by killing a teacher and 12 classmates. In March, a gunman killed 10 people at a Boulder grocery store, including a police officer. About two months later, a gunman opened fire at a birthday party in Colorado Springs, killing six people before taking his own life. And last month, six teenagers were wounded in a drive-by shooting at a park in the Denver suburb of Aurora.The Gun Violence Archive, which defines a mass shooting as one with four or more people injured or killed, not including the perpetrator, has counted 687 such shootings in the United States this year.
Source: Gunman Kills 4 in Shooting Spree Across Denver Area, Police Say
A Florida real estate agent was killed outside a home she was showing in a shooting that may be linked to a separate landlord-tenant dispute, a report said.
Sara Michelle Trost, 40, was gunned down inside her car outside the home in Coral Springs at about 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, WSVN reported, citing police. She died on scene.
Trost, a mother of one, was showing the home the day she was murdered, neighbors told the outlet.
Investigators are probing whether the deadly violence stemmed from an earlier dispute involving a former tenant of the residence and the landlord.
Soon after the shooting, Raymond Wesley Reese, 51, was arrested in West Palm Beach and later charged with murder.
Source: Florida real estate agent fatally shot outside home she was showing
By WXII Web StaffWINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — A man trying to rob a Family Dollar in Winston-Salem was stopped by one of the store’s employees.
Police said Avondre McLaurin tried to steal money from the cash register and appeared to be tucking a gun under his clothes.
He was shot in the leg around 5 p.m. Thursday by the store employee and then fled from the store.
McLaurin was later arrested at his home on North Spring Street and police say he resisted arrest. McLaurin was bitten by a K-9 dog when he tried to escape arrest and was eventually arrested, police told WXII News.
Source: Family Dollar employee shoots man trying to rob his store :: WRAL.com
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) – Los Angeles police officers shot and killed both a 14-year-old girl and an assault suspect when they opened fire inside a Burlington store in North Hollywood Thursday morning, authorities said.
Los Angeles police believe the girl was struck by a stray bullet that passed through a dressing room wall. The 14-year-old was identified by the L.A. County Coroner’s Office Friday as Valentina Orellana-Peralta. The male suspect’s name has not yet been released.
Source: Two Killed In Shooting At Burlington Store In North Hollywood – CBS Los Angeles
NEWARK, Del. – Delaware State Police say they have taken five suspects into custody after they were located inside the stolen vehicle belonging to U.S. Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA 5th District).
The 2017 blue Acura MDX was located at 2800 Fashion Center Blvd. in Newark at approximately 9 p.m. Wednesday, police said. The suspects were taken to Delaware State Police Troop 2 for processing.
Two armed men, approximately 20-30 years of age, approached Scanlon Wednesday afternoon in Philadelphia and demanded the keys to her vehicle, the Philadelphia Police Department reported.
By: KDKA-TV News Staff
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – What started as a call to ensure a firing went without incident turned into an arrest for murder.
READ MORE:Kiski Township Police Searching For Woman After She Allegedly Stabbed A Man Then Fled
On Wednesday night, Pittsburgh Police got a call from the Family Dollar in the Marshall-Shadeland neighborhood about a shoplifting employee. The store manager told police that 22-year-old Joseph Tedder had been stealing from the store and was to be fired.
Once police arrived, they learned Tedder had fled the store.
It was then when police learned that Tedder had been wanted in Austin, Texas for a murder during a suspected drug deal. The criminal complaint says that Tedder and two other men entered an apartment in Austin with plans to sell drugs and shortly after, gunfire rang out and a man was dead.
The Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office was then called to assist Pittsburgh Police.
After 10:00 p.m., deputies located a vehicle that Tedder was believed to be in on the 3300 block of Brighton Road.
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Tedder was then found inside a home and taken into custody without incident.
Source: Suspected Wanted For Homicide In Texas Arrested In Allegheny County – CBS Pittsburgh
Police said a man was leaving the mall when he was confronted by another man at his vehicle.
The man who approached the victim opened the passenger side door and confronted him.
Police said the victim fled from the vehicle and the suspect also fled the area, without taking anything.
Police said the vehicle had been left running in reverse and drifted backward, unoccupied, and hit another vehicle parked in the next row.
Police said the victim did not have anything taken and was not injured.
Police also said the two may have known each other, but it is unclear at this time.
Ross police said they have obtained surveillance video of the incident and are still investigating.
This is a developing story. Stay with Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 for updates. Download the WTAE mobile app to stay connected with breaking news.
Source: Ross Township police investigating incident at Ross Park Mall parking lot
A Colorado district attorney has moved for a hearing to examine whether a 110-year prison sentence for a truck driver who killed four people in a crash in 2019 should stand.
Rogel Aguilera-Mederos, 26, was sentenced to the lengthy term last week because of state laws that require sentences for certain crimes to be served consecutively, or back to back.
The 100-year-plus sentence was quickly criticized by some and prompted calls for a reduction. More than 4.6 million people have signed a petition asking Gov. Jared Polis, a Democrat, to grant clemency or commute the sentence.
First Judicial District Attorney Alexis King filed a motion Friday for a hearing to reconsider the sentence under the state’s mandatory minimum law.
“The law also permits the Court to reconsider its sentence in an exceptional case involving unusual and extenuating circumstances,” the motion reads.
Aguilera-Mederos, who was hauling lumber in a tractor-trailer on Interstate 70 on April 25, 2019, said his brakes failed before he crashed into traffic that had been stopped for another accident in Lakewood. A fire erupted, engulfing vehicles.
Doyle Harrison, 61; William Bailey, 67; Stanley Politano, 69; and Miguel Lamas Arrellano, 24, were killed.
The chain-reaction crash and fire involved 28 vehicles. The semi was traveling an estimated 84 mph before the crash.
Source: Colorado DA seeks review of truck driver’s 110-year sentence in deadly crash
Police seek person of interest in investigation
BLAIRSVILLE, Pa. —
Police in Blairsville, Indiana County, said they want to talk to a person of interest after counterfeit $100 bills were passed at Tractor Supply and Dollar General.
Police released pictures of the person of interest on Monday.
Anyone who knows who the person is should contact the Blairsville Borough Police Department at 724-459-7555.
Source: Counterfeit $100 bills passed in Indiana County
Police said Marcus Quevi, 30, grabbed his girlfriend and threatened to kill her when she told him to leave her roommate alone.
Police said the girlfriend told Quevi to leave the house, which he did, but he allegedly then climbed the fire escape and broke back into the home.
Police said Quevi’s girlfriend and her roommate hid in the basement until police count get them out safely.
Police said Quevi barricaded himself inside but surrendered about an hour later.
Quevi faces several charges including burglary and simple assault.
Source: Pittsburgh man allegedly assaults girlfriend over can of beer, leading to SWAT situation
Shooting happened on Tuesday night.
MONESSEN, Pa. —
Police were investigating after a man was shot multiple times in Monessen, Westmoreland County.
The shooting happened a little before 7 p.m. Tuesday on Reed Avenue near Fourth Street.
Source: Man shot multiple times in Monessen
PITTSBURGH —
First responders scrambled to two separate stabbings on Pittsburgh’s North Shore Saturday night.
Pittsburgh Public Safety says the first incident occurred just before 7:45 p.m. in the Northview Heights neighborhood. First responders were called to the 200 block of Lamar street for a male in his 30s who had multiple stab wounds to his face, arm, and back. Medics transported the victim to a nearby hospital in stable condition.
During the course of that investigation, officers found a possible crime scene related to the stabbing nearby on the 100 block of Hazlett street.
Source: https://www.wtae.com/article/pittsburgh-first-responders-investigate-separate-stabbing-incidents-saturday/38558977#https://www.wtae.com/article/pittsburgh-first-responders-investigate-separate-stabbing-incidents-saturday/38558977#
Shooting happened late Thursday night
TARENTUM, Pa. —
Allegheny County homicide detectives are investigating after a woman was shot and killed in Tarentum.
The shooting happened shortly after 11 p.m. Thursday on the 300 block of Main Street.
Source: Woman shot and killed in Tarentum
A Greensburg man is accused of taking money from a church and a grocery store when cashing a check from a second church, according to police.
Anthony Lawrence McGeachy, 46, of Greensburg, is charged with theft and bad checks in two cases.
“We understand that this time of year, there are genuine people that need help,” said Police Capt. Shawn Denning while warning churches to beware of those who have ulterior motives when looking for assistance.
Officials at First Church of God on South Pennsylvania Avenue reported earlier this month that in October, McGeachy approached them and asked for $350 to “get his affairs in order,” according to a criminal complaint.
Denning said McGeachy claimed to be from a congregation in Ohio. A deacon provided McGeachy with an additional $150, according to the complaint.
Church officials were unsuccessful in contacting him to have the money repaid, police said.
Source: Greensburg man scammed church out of money, police said
The release of almost 1,500 documents still leaves more than 10,000 either partially redacted or withheld entirely.
Source: Biden administration releases previously classified JFK assassination documents
JEFFERSON COUNTY, Ohio — Members of the Jefferson County Drug Task Force seized 56 grams of methamphetamine aftera traffic stop by Wintersville police over the weekend.
Two people – 51-year-old Charles Thompson, of Steubenville, and 46-year-old Christopher Price, of Wintersville – were arrested.
The Steubenville K-9 unit and the Ohio State Highway Patrol assisted at the stop
Source: 56 grams of meth seized after traffic stop in Jefferson County | WTOV
PITTSBURGH — A person told police he was attacked when a group of males broke into his home Monday morning in Pittsburgh’s Perry North neighborhood before stealing his car.
The home invasion happened about 6 a.m. on Richey Avenue.
Police said the person who was inside the home told them the group broke in, assaulted him and stole items, including his car keys. The group then got away in the victim’s red Dodge Challenger.
The victim was evaluated by paramedics for minor injuries, police said.
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Source: Person attacked by group that broke into Pittsburgh home, stole car
Shooting happened early Sunday morning
FRANKLIN, Pa. —
State police in Venango County said an Allegheny County man was shot and killed in Rockland Township early Sunday morning.
Peter Bernardo Spencer, 29, was found deceased in the front yard of a home on Carls Road.
Source: Allegheny County man shot and killed in Venango County
PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh police are looking for two masked men who held up a South Oakland convenience store at gunpoint and got away with cash early Friday morning.
“I’m very saddened that this happened to my neighborhood store. This is a tragedy,” said Dee Faulkner, reacting to the news.
Faulkner said she visits the Sunoco, which is at the corner of Boulevard of the Allies and Craft Avenue, at least once a day.
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Source: Convenience store robbed by 2 men with guns in Pittsburgh’s South Oakland neighborhood – WPXI
Stabbing happened early Saturday morning.
Police said the victim was found suffered from stab wounds and was taken to the hospital in critical condition.
Police said a suspect is in custody and they are working with the Allegheny County District Attorney’s office to determine if charges will be filed.
Source: Man stabbed in Stowe Township
Police are warning residents in several Westmoreland County communities, including Greensburg, Hempfield and North Huntingdon, about a recent surge in vehicle and home break-ins. On Friday, state police released photographs taken from residential security cameras of people who are suspected of looking for unlocked cars and trucks in the vicinity
