Homicides in Pittsburgh, Allegheny County mimic past years despite high-profile shootings

Pittsburgh was on pace for the fewest number of homicides since 2012 until October when a gunman cut down 11 congregants inside a Squirrel Hill synagogue.

While the Oct. 27 shooting at Tree of Life will leave many associating 2018 with a year of bloodshed, homicide statistics in Pittsburgh and Allegheny Countystayed relatively stable last year.

Countywide, 111 people died at the hands of others, including four people who were assaulted elsewhere and died at Allegheny County hospitals.

In Pittsburgh, 54 people died in homicides, continuing a small but steady drop over the last few years.

Homicides in Pittsburgh

• 2018: 54

• 2017: 57

• 2016: 58

• 2015: 60

Source: Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office

In the rest of Allegheny County, there were 53 homicides, keeping pace with past years.

Homicides in Allegheny County (not including Pittsburgh)

• 2018: 53

• 2017: 50

• 2016: 49

• 2015: 57

Source: Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office

Nine people were killed in the 2.25 square miles that make up Wilkinsburg.

Sixteen people were killed in both June and October, the deadliest months countywide.

Fourteen victims countywide were 18 years old or younger. The two youngest victims were both 1 year old, and both were allegedly killed by a parent’s significant other: Charlette Napper-Talley and Aubree Sherrell, both of whom were died in April. Police accused Aubree’s mother of strangling the infant. Charlette died after she consumed fentanyl that was in her sippy cup.

Two were killed by police. Mark Daniels was shot and killed by a Pittsburgh police officer Feb. 11 in the city’s Homewood South neighborhood. Allegheny County District Attorney Stephan A. Zappala Jr. ruled the shooting justified.

Antwon Rose II, 17, was shot and killed June 19 in East Pittsburgh, sparking protests in the small borough and throughout Pittsburgh. Former East Pittsburgh police Officer Michael Rosfeld is scheduled to stand trial for Rose’s killing.

Guns were used in 95 of the killings. Five were killed by blunt force trauma; three were stabbed; two were asphyxiated, and one died from a drug overdose.

Four victims included in Allegheny County’s homicide total were injured outside the county and died after being taken to Pittsburgh hospitals.

• Brenda Kay Zelenski, of Indiana County, died March 9 from stab wounds sustained during an fight a week earlier with her husband. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

• Ryan Minett, 27, died March 24 after a domestic dispute with a woman. Jessica Ann Royall was charged in his death after she allegedly drunkenly sped through a Cranberry neighborhood with Minett holding onto her roof rack. He fell off and slid more than 50 feet. He was later pronounced dead at UPMC Presbyterian.

• Dylan Monroe, 18, was shot during an alleged drug deal gone bad in Toronto, Ohio, in August. He was flown to UPMC Presbyterian where he later died.

• Walter Wiemann, 73, was shot by state police in Butler County in September. He’d allegedly barricaded himself in a home and then raised a rifle at an approaching state trooper, who opened fire. He was taken to UPMC Presbyterian where he was pronounced dead.

Megan Guza is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Megan at 412-380-8519, mguza@tribweb.com or via Twitter @meganguzaTrib.