North Side man found guilty of first-degree murder in 2017 killing

An East Allegheny man convicted of murder Tuesday maintains he didn’t commit the crime.

Allegheny County Judge Jeffrey Manning convicted Justin Parrotte of first-degree murder in the 2017 killing of John Miller on city steps in Pittsburgh’s Spring Hill-City View neighborhood.

“I didn’t kill that man. I had no reason to kill that man,” Parrotte said after Manning delivered his verdict.

Miller was shot five times in the head, Manning said.

Parrotte was handcuffed and wearing leg shackles in orange Allegheny County Jail garb as he stood before the judge.

Testimony from two witnesses and surveillance camera footage during a nonjury trial last week was enough for Manning to determine that Parrotte, 31, intentionally killed Miller, Manning said.

A witness told police Parrotte sought out Miller because he thought the man was an informant in a drug case.

The witness and Parrotte met Miller on Jan. 25, 2017, according to the criminal complaint. Parrotte shot Miller on city steps near Vinial Street, police said.

After the shooting, Parrotte and the witness walked on the North Side near the National Aviary, and Parrotte played on swings at a playground because he had never been on swings, according to the criminal complaint.

Parrotte will be sentenced May 26.

Before sheriff’s deputy’s led Parrotte back to Allegheny County Jail, the judge told him he could raise any issues with the case on appeal.

“I respect the court’s decision. We tried the best case we could,” Parrotte’s lawyer, James Sheets, said.