2 teens ordered to stand trial in Stanton Heights slaying

Two teens were ordered Friday to stand trial on charges that they conspired to set up and then fatally shoot a 21-year-old man in Pittsburgh late last year.

Jared Goodwine was murdered late Nov. 6, 2022, in the 900 block of Millerdale Street in Stanton Heights, according to a criminal complaint filed in the case. Witnesses reported hearing more than 20 shots fired from what sounded like assault rifles.

Pittsburgh police later arrested Miara Morgan-Graham, 19, of Homewood, who authorities said “was involved in the homicide of Jared Goodwine and likely the last person to see him alive,” the complaint said.

Police said Morgan-Graham and Klinton McLaughlin III, 18, of Stowe, coordinated and traveled to the scene where Goodwine was slain. They also allege that Morgan-Graham “knowingly and purposefully” drove Goodwine to his murder, and conspired with McLaughlin, the suspected shooter, by providing the time and place where Goodwine would be.

Police said Goodwine was unresponsive when they found him with multiple gunshots wounds in a parked SUV on Nov. 6, 2022.

Police searched Goodwine’s iPhone, where a cluster of text messages and FaceTime calls to “Shae” and “Shae Lae” showed Goodwine planned to accompany the woman when she dropped off her cousin at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, the complaint said. “Shae Le” is Morgan-Graham’s middle name, police learned.

Police also learned Morgan-Graham’s cousin lives on Millerdale Street, four houses from where Goodwine was shot, the complaint said. The cousin attends Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

Morgan-Graham repeatedly told police she wasn’t involved in the crime, the complaint said. She denied talking on FaceTime with Goodwine on the day he was killed, or that she had a cousin living on Millerdale Street. She said she never met Goodwine.

Police arrested McLaughlin and Morgan-Graham on June 9, and they have remained since then in Allegheny County Jail, court records show. Judges have denied them both bail.

McLaughlin faces charges of homicide, conspiracy and two firearms charges, while Morgan-Graham is charged with homicide and conspiracy, court records show.

McLaughlin, who was 17 at the time of the shooting, is being tried as an adult, court records show.

Both appeared at preliminary hearings Friday morning and were ordered to stand trial, court records show. McLaughlin and Morgan-Graham are scheduled to be arraigned in Allegheny County Common Pleas Court on Nov. 8.