10 jurors selected in Wilkinsburg mass shooting case

Attorneys on Monday selected two more jurors — Nos. 9 and 10 — to hear the case against two men charged in the 2016 mass shooting at a backyard cookout in Wilkinsburg.

A younger white woman who works in social media marketing and a white man who is a teacher were chosen for the jury to hear the case against Cheron Shelton and Robert Thomas.

Shelton, 32, and Thomas, 31, are charged in the shooting deaths of five adults and an unborn child. Each faces five counts of homicide, one count of homicide of an unborn child and other charges related to the March 9, 2016, shooting on Franklin Avenue. They could face the death penalty if convicted.

The woman, who was the ninth juror selected, said she could only vaguely recall hearing about the shooting when it happened nearly four years ago.

“I haven’t put a lot of thought into the death penalty,” the woman said. “I’m not strong for or strong against.”

The man was asked whether he had any moral or religious beliefs that would sway him in the trial’s sentencing phase if the jury convicts the men.

“My main philosophical loyalty here would be to the law,” he said.

Five potential jurors were excused. Five others were stricken for cause, meaning they had opinions that wouldn’t allow them to be impartial.

One prospective juror, a nurse, was stricken after she said she wasn’t sure she could vote to impose the death penalty if it was warranted.

“I think it would be a lot on my conscience to take a life,” she said, “especially because my profession is trying to save life.”

The defense used a peremptory challenge to strike one juror, a woman said she didn’t like the “political views” of local television news and preferred Fox News.

Peremptory challenges allow either side to disqualify a juror without stating a reason. Both sides have 20 peremptory challenges. The defense’s are split between to the two defendants.

Attorneys need a jury of 12 plus four alternates to hear the case.

Prosecuting the case are Deputy District Attorney Kevin Chernosky and Assistant District Attorney Lisa Pellegrini. Shelton is represented by Wendy Williams and Randall McKinney. Thomas is represented by Casey White and Michael Machen.

The trial is expected to last up to three weeks.

Killed in the 2016 gunfire were siblings Jerry Shelton, 35, Brittany Powell, 27, and Chanetta Powell, 25; their cousin, Tina Shelton, 37; family friend Shada Mahone, 26; and Chanetta Powell’s unborn son, Demetrius. None of the slain Sheltons is related to the defendant.