Police arrest Pittsburgh man in fatal Arnold shooting
A Pittsburgh man faces charges in an early Friday shooting that left a 27-year-old Arnold man dead, according to detectives.
Shawden L. Ross, 32, of Pittsburgh is charged with homicide and other charges in the shooting death of Lamont Simmons, 27, investigators said.
At about 4 a.m. Friday, police responded to a report of shots fired in the area of 16th Street and Ivy Alley.
They found Simmons lying face down in the street in the 1500 block of Fifth Avenue, authorities said. Simmons was taken by ambulance to Allegheny Valley Hospital in Harrison. He was pronounced dead there at 5:11 a.m., according to investigators.
Ross was later brought to the New Kensington office of District Judge Frank J. Pallone Jr. for a preliminary arraignment.
In addition to homicide, Ross was charged with illegal gun possession and receiving stolen property.
According to the criminal complaint, Ross had a previous felony criminal conviction that made it illegal for him to have any gun.
At the hearing, Ross sat shoeless, listening to Pallone until Ross had a question.
“What did I steal?” he asked.
Pallone replied it was the handgun he is accused of using in the shooting.
Police reports said Ross used a .22-caliber H&R revolver that was reported stolen to state police when officers checked its serial number Friday.
The same report said police and detectives obtained a surveillance video from 16th Street at Fourth Avenue. They said it shows Lamont Simmons, Ross and another unnamed person “appearing to have a dispute.”
Ross next pulls the pistol and points it at Simmons’ head. Police said that fight was around the corner from where the man was found.
The police report says three or four shots were fired.
Police talked to witnesses and found out where Ross was staying. They got a search warrant and said they found the pistol.
Bond isn’t possible for a homicide charge, so Ross was taken by Westmoreland County deputy sheriffs to the county jail to await a preliminary hearing that is scheduled in about two weeks in Pallone’s office.
Earlier in the day, police and county detectives investigated in the neighborhood.
Arnold Patrolman Colt Stebler knocked on doors. Stebler couldn’t comment on the case but was asking people with surveillance cameras outside their home to view the footage.
The 1500 block of Fifth Avenue in Arnold was mostly deserted at noon Friday. Most people either weren’t at home or didn’t answer their doors.
“It was about 4 this morning, and I heard about six gunshots,” said Robert Lauffer, 52. “This isn’t the first time it happened. It’s happened before. It’s getting bad around here every now and again.”
Lauffer said he didn’t see anything after he heard the gunshots. He said when he hears stuff like that, he keeps away from the window because he doesn’t want to get shot. Lauffer said he didn’t know who was shot, but felt bad for them.
“The poor person’s family,” Lauffer said.
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