Police chief: Arnold, New Kensington homicides not connected

Two killings within about 24 hours of each other in New Kensington and neighboring Arnold do not appear to be connected, according to Arnold police Chief Eric Doutt.

New Kensington police are searching for who shot and killed Anthone Williams, 31, of Arnold early Wednesday evening in a vacant part of the city’s East Ken Manor housing complex. Police haven’t said whether they have a suspect.

Meanwhile, Arnold police said they suspect Mario Matthew Gatti, 31, of killing a Brackenridge man inside an apartment in the 200 block of 17th Street late Thursday afternoon. Gatti remained at large Friday and is considered armed and dangerous, according to police.

The Westmoreland County Coroner’s Office on Friday identified the victim in the latter shooting as Michael Coover Jr., 33. Coroner Ken Bacha said Coover died from multiple gunshots and ruled his death a homicide.

Cheryl Banks of Arnold said she knows the families of both victims. She was at the 17th Street shooting scene Thursday consoling friends and family members.

“I didn’t give birth to them, but they all call me mom,” Banks said. “They’ve all been in my house; they’ve ate my food; they’ve spent a night at my house. These are my people. I’m there for them, and they know that. This is really ridiculous. These are kids, and somewhere along the line it needs to stop.”

Travis Lasko, 18, said he wants violence in the neighboring communities to stop. He said Williams was his uncle.

“To have something like this happen within a 24-hour span is just tragic and upsetting,” Lasko said.

“I feel like this community really needs to come together on things like this and try to stop this evil, sickening thing,” Lasko added. “Our community needs to come together and do a good thing. You really don’t want to walk around here. Parents are scared for their kids because they could (be at) the wrong place (at the) wrong time. It’s just dangerous right now. I don’t even know what to say. We’ve got to get these evil people out of here.”

Court records show that Gatti, originally from Uniontown, has been convicted and spent time in county jail on charges including drug possession with intent to deliver, resisting arrest, drug-delivery conspiracy and receiving stolen property. The cases date to at least 2012, records show.

Coover served time in a state prison from Dec. 15, 2006, to Jan. 21, 2010, on a drug conviction and returned to state prison for nearly six years after violating his parole, court records show.

Chuck Biedka and Michael DiVittorio are Tribune-Review staff writers. You can contact Chuck at 724-226-4711, cbiedka@tribweb.com or via Twitter @ChuckBiedka. You can contact Michael at 412-871-2367, mdivittorio@tribweb.com or via Twitter @MikeJdiVittorio.