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 Wilkinsburg Detective Michael Adams, who said he spotted Cheron Shelton leaving the scene minutes after the shooting.

Adams is the key witness tying Shelton to Franklin Avenue shortly after five adults and an unborn child were gunned down at a backyard cookout. Shelton, 33, is charged with six counts of homicide and could face the death penalty if convicted. Jurors will resume deliberations Thursday.

Judge Edward J. Borkowski said a document jurors requested regarding Adams’ testimony was not entered into evidence. Defense attorney Randall McKinney asked for the court record to be reopened so he could enter the document. Deputy District Attorney Kevin Chernosky objected.

Borkowski settled on having a portion of the trial testimony read back to jurors, acknowledging that he normally doesn’t permit such a move. He said it was the most “fair and even-handed” solution.

Jurors filed in and listened as the court reporter read back about five minutes of testimony from McKinney’s cross-examination of Adams.

Adams said he was patrolling a few blocks away on Marlboro Avenue when he heard gunshots and started slowly toward the sound. He turned onto Franklin Avenue and saw a man getting into a white Lincoln Continental. He said he pulled slowly next to the Lincoln, “driver’s side to driver’s side,” and stared at the man he later identified as Shelton.

Adams said during the trial he stared at the man for 5 or 6 seconds, expecting him to start the car or look over.

McKinney asked whether Adams questioned or detained Shelton or whether he made eye contact or considered him a suspect.

No, Adams said.

McKinney offered Adams a transcript of a July 2018 hearing in which Adams testified that he stared at the man in the car for 60 seconds. According to the transcript, McKinney asked two more times whether Adams was sure it was 60 seconds.

“At this particular moment, it’s hard to remember how many seconds,” Adams replied.

He said he didn’t have time to wait around, so he drove off and made note of the Lincoln’s license plate. He said he wrote it down and later told a detective at the crime scene about it.

McKinney has noted that no detective has come forward saying he or she spoke to Adams about the plate number that night, and Adams said he lost the piece of paper on which he wrote the number. The number, along with anonymous tips, led investigators to Shelton, police said.