Megan Guza stories, Page 47
Defense repeats calls for mistrial in Wilkinsburg shooting case as jurors remain undecided on verdict
More testy court filings on Thursday in the 2016 Wilkinsburg mass shooting case hurled more accusations at prosecutors as jurors wrapped up their third day of deliberations without rendering a verdict. The filing by defense attorney Randall McKinney, who represents homicide suspect Cheron Shelton, renewed calls for a mistrial in...
Uniontown man claims Penn State discriminated against his colorblindness
A Uniontown man’s lawsuit alleging Penn State University discriminated against him because he is colorblind will be allowed to move forward, a federal judge ruled. Danny David, 48, sued the university late last year, claiming the school unjustly rescinded a job offer with the university police after discovering David is...
In rare move, judge in Wilkinsburg mass shooting trial allows detective’s testimony to be heard again
Jurors in the 2016 Wilkinsburg mass shooting trial ended a second day of deliberations without reaching a verdict — but not without seeking more details about a police detective’s testimony. The jurors — six men and six women — asked the judge to hear again about inconsistent statements made by...
Scientists discover mysterious outer space radio waves that repeat every 16 days
Something, somewhere, about a half-billion light-years away in space, is sending out mysterious radio signals that form a set pattern. Fast radio bursts (FRB) are rare but not unheard of, according to CNN, but they normally are emitted once by whatever the source. When they do repeat, it’s in short...
Former witness in Wilkinsburg mass shooting case says he was paid to cooperate; prosecutors deny allegation
A former witness used by authorities to file homicide charges against suspects in the 2016 Wilkinsburg mass shooting case is alleging prosecutors paid him for information and encouraged him to lie, according to court documents unsealed Wednesday. The District Attorney’s Office called the allegations a “desperate attempt” by defense attorneys...
As jurors deliberate in Wilkinsburg shooting case, questions ariseVideo
Jurors in the 2016 Wilkinsburg mass shooting deliberated about seven hours on Tuesday before going home without reaching a verdict. Judge Edward J. Borkowski, who is presiding over the case, said he’s letting jurors set the pace of the deliberations. The jurors – six men and six women – reported...
Jury deliberations to begin in 2016 Wilkinsburg mass shooting case
Jurors in the 2016 Wilkinsburg mass shooting case will begin deliberations Tuesday morning after just six days of testimony in a trial that was expected to last up to three weeks. Presented with the option of staying for a few hours Monday evening and beginning deliberations, jurors chose to elect...
Attorneys allege witness was paid to cooperate in Wilkinsburg mass shooting case
The judge presiding over the 2016 Wilkinsburg mass shooting case on Friday denied a defense request for a mistrial based on allegations that a witness had been paid to cooperate with prosecutors. Judge Edward J. Borkowski refused to unseal the motion from defense attorneys and make it available to the...
Prosecutors contend video without sound still says a lot about Wilkinsburg mass shooting suspect
Though no audio played during an hour-long video recording of Cheron Shelton’s visit with his father at the Allegheny County Jail, Shelton’s body language appeared to convey a lot. In the beginning of the video shot April 6, 2016, his visit appears benign. About five minutes in, something shocks Shelton...
Allegheny County judge barred from hearing cases after alleged racist remark about juror
Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge Mark Tranquilli has been barred from hearing cases, following accusations that he referred to a black female juror as “Aunt Jemima” in a conversation with attorneys on the case. President Judge Kim Berkley Clark issued the court order regarding Tranquilli on Thursday. The conversation took...
Judge in Wilkinsburg shooting case jails man accused of intimidating juror
The judge presiding over the 2016 Wilkinsburg mass shooting trial jailed a man Thursday morning who he said tried to intimidate a juror. Lonnie Jenkins, 37, will serve six months in jail for comments Judge Edward J. Borkowski said he made Wednesday while surveillance footage played in the trial of...
Homewood shooting victims’ families cry foul over DA’s ‘sweetheart deal’
An attorney who last week called for the Allegheny County district attorney’s resignation has re-upped those calls, citing more alleged misconduct and violations of the state Crime Victims Act. Paul Jubas represents the families of those injured in a 2015 vigil shooting in Homewood. He alleges they were never informed...
Jailhouse letters from accused killer read aloud during Day 3 of Wilkinsburg mass shooting trialVideo
Cheron Shelton told “Pops” he had been working on getting rid of something before police picked him up on a probation violation and a charge of receiving stolen property. It was at “Bubby’s house round the corner,” and it was “next to the lawn mowers, wrapped and ready to be...
Wilkinsburg shooting suspect Robert Thomas released from jail after having charges dismissed
Robert Thomas went from facing a capital murder case to walking out of the Allegheny County Jail in the span of about 24 hours. Thomas, 31, was charged with six counts of homicide as a co-defendant in the 2016 mass shooting in Wilkinsburg that killed five adults and an unborn...
Alleged target of Wilkinsburg mass shooting testifies on Day 2 of trialVideo
The alleged target of the 2016 mass shooting in Wilkinsburg, Lamont Powell, testified Tuesday, acknowledging that he didn’t want to be in court and was cooperating only because he had been arrested for ignoring a subpoena. The second day of testimony in the case against Cheron Shelton, 33, revolved around...
Witness testifies to chaos of 2016 Wilkinsburg shooting scene as defense attempts to discredit police evidenceVideo
Bleeding from her own gunshot wound, Tonjia Cunningham begged Tina Shelton to stay alive. “Tina, Tina, Tina.” “Talk to me.” “Tina, Tina, Tina, Tina.” “Don’t you (expletive) die on me,” she wailed. Jurors in Cheron Shelton’s murder trial heard the recording of the call Cunningham placed to 911 just before...
Charges dismissed against accused gunman in Wilkinsburg mass shooting
Charges have been dismissed against one of two men charged in the 2016 Wilkinsburg mass shooting case. Robert Thomas, 31, was taken back to the Allegheny County Jail about 9:30 a.m. Monday after Judge Edward J. Borkowski granted a defense motion made last week to dismiss the six counts of...
After 4 years, Wilkinsburg mass shooting case comes down to 3-week trialVideo
There were 49 shots, then screams, then sirens. The sounds cut through the unseasonably warm night in March 2016, where in a backyard in Wilkinsburg family and friends gathered to take advantage of the weather. Brittany Powell was living in the home at 1304 Franklin Ave., where a modest backyard...
Penn Hills woman charged in kidnapping, death of Nalani Johnson to stand trial
A Penn Hills woman will stand trial on charges she kidnapped and killed a toddler last year and left the child in an Indiana County Park. All charges against Sharena Nancy were held for court Friday during a preliminary hearing. In addition to kidnapping and homicide, she is charged with...
Accused gunman in Wilkinsburg mass shooting might not stand trial
One of two men set to stand trial in a 2016 Wilkinsburg mass shooting will learn Monday whether he will be tried with his co-defendant or if the six counts of murder against him will be dismissed. The trial is scheduled to begin Monday. Common Pleas Judge Edward J. Borkowski...
Some bumps, but overall violent crime continues to fall in Pittsburgh
As violent crime fell slightly last year citywide, both violent crime in Downtown Pittsburgh and hate crimes citywide increased, according to data released Thursday by public safety officials. The combined number of homicides and non-fatal shootings dropped for the fourth year, to a combined 146 shootings — a drop of...
Family demands charges against Wilkinsburg witness who allegedly confessed to toddler’s killing
An attorney for the family of a toddler killed in a drive-by shooting in 2013 demanded Thursday that the District Attorney’s Office file homicide charges against the jailhouse snitch who allegedly confessed to the slaying. The man alleged to have confessed is known only as Witness 3, and his purported...
Missing man found dead in Pittsburgh parking garage
A man reported missing in Pittsburgh last week was found dead Tuesday, authorities said. Mark Hall, 47, was reported missing Jan. 27, four days after he was last seen in the city’s West End. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office reported that Hall was pronounced dead about 1:30 p.m. Tuesday...
5 bartenders charged alongside owner of illegal Homewood speakeasy
The secret to Club Secrets was a couple $20 bills. Twenty dollars would get you onto the first floor of the illegal Homewood speakeasy busted this week by state liquor control agents. For $40, you could go to the second floor of the Kelly Street establishment. The secret, however, is...
Judge could nix key witness testimony in Wilkinsburg mass shooting
The judge presiding over the 2016 Wilkinsburg mass shooting case said Tuesday he’s considering suppressing testimony of a jailhouse witness who, along with offering information in the Wilkinsburg case, offered information in a dozen other crimes. The death-penalty trial for Cheron Shelton and Robert Thomas — both of whom face...
