Detectives: 2 teens opened fire on New Kensington undercover officers

Two men are accused of firing nearly a dozen shots at three New Kensington police officers who were following them in February.

Westmoreland County Detectives said Ezra Michael Grant, 19, of Greensburg, and J’Lamar Jeremiah Washington, 18, of Duquesne, face three counts each of attempted homicide, assault of a law enforcement officer and aggravated assault in connection with the Feb. 4 incident.

A criminal complaint filed in the case said Grant and Washington were in a group of five or six men who had noticed a van following them. The officers, who had been working undercover, said they began following the group after recognizing one of the men, Tywone McClain, was wanted on a robbery warrant.

McClain, Washington’s half-brother, was arrested on the warrant a day after the shooting. The complaint said he told investigators that Grant and Washington had fired at the van carrying a sergeant and two officers.

Washington, also arrested on a warrant a day after the shooting, was questioned at Allegheny County Jail by detectives on Feb. 7. The complaint said Washington told them that he fired his .38-caliber revolver at the van after Grant fired his 9 mm handgun at it first.

Detectives said they interviewed Grant at a state probation and parole office in Greensburg on Feb. 11. The complaint said he admitted to being with the group of men, but denied shooting at the van or knowing who did.

The sergeant who had been in the van said nine to 11 shots were fired at the vehicle, with bullets hitting the passenger side doors, windows and rear window. A round hit but did not penetrate the sergeant’s leg. No one was seriously hurt.

New Kensington police Chief Bob Deringer said the sergeant and two officers had been looking for Letresse Williams, who was wanted on four counts of attempted homicide and related charges in connection with a Dec. 1 shooting incident at Valley Royal Court. The U.S. Marshal’s Fugitive Task Force arrested Williams later that night.

Grant was denied bail and was being held in Westmoreland County Prison. Washington remained in Allegheny County Jail.