An Allegheny County jury on Wednesday said that a man involved in a summer afternoon gunfight in Pittsburgh’s Spring Hill that led to the death of a 1-year-old struck by a stray bullet is guilty of voluntary manslaughter.
Marvin Hill, 44, of Pittsburgh’s Spring Hill neighborhood, will be sentenced on Jan. 31 by Judge Susan Evashavik DiLucente.
The jury, which deliberated about 10 hours over two days, also found Hill guilty of being a person not permitted to possess a firearm.
Each count carries a maximum penalty of 10 to 20 years in prison.
The jury found Hill not guilty of attempted homicide and aggravated assault.
His defense attorneys, Elbert Gray and Carmen Robinson, said they consider the verdict a victory, given that their client was facing a potential third-degree murder conviction.
Still, Robinson said, it’s a hard verdict to swallow.
“The two others who attempted to murder our client will likely get a lesser sentence than our client.”
The two others, Andre Crawford and Devon Thompson, both testified against Hill during the eight-day trial. They are scheduled to appear in court next week. Crawford is expected to plead guilty to voluntary manslaughter. Thompson is expected to plead to aggravated assault. There is no agreement as to sentence.
Deputy District Attorney Ilan Zur argued to the jury that the conduct by all three men that day at the Three Rivers Manor housing complex was outrageous.
On Aug. 24, 2020, police said, about 4:52 p.m., someone fired shots at Hill, who lived in the complex.
Hill retreated to his apartment and emerged an hour later carrying a rifle.
Both Crawford and Thompson testified that they were also armed and drew their own weapons when they saw Hill with his.
Thompson fired first. Police said Hill fired seven rounds indiscriminately, and Crawford fired five shots of his own.
It was one of Crawford’s bullets that went through the window of a nearby apartment building, traveled through three walls and struck Zykier Young as he lay in bed.
The infant died a short time later.
Although Hill didn’t fire the fatal shot, Zur argued that he shared in responsibility for Zykier’s death.
Even if Hill fired in self-defense, Zur told the jury, it amounts to voluntary manslaughter.
During the trial, Hill testified on his own behalf and said he never fired any shots that day.
“Do you take any responsibility for the death of Zykier Young?” Zur asked Hill on cross-examination.
“I did nothing wrong that day,” Hill responded. “I’m sorry. I did nothing wrong. I’m a victim also.”
Hill said people shot at him earlier in the day, but he never called the police because he had a pending warrant for violating house arrest.
He also testified that he was using an array of drugs at the time, including K2, which is synthetic marijuana, and ecstasy.
