Prosecutors claim New Kensington man's death involving teens was over owed drug money

Prosecutors for the first time Friday publicly revealed an alleged motive in the fatal shooting of a New Kensington man in July.

Seven teens are charged in the death of Jason Raiford, 39.

Westmoreland County Detective Jason Napier testified during a preliminary hearing for four of them that some of the suspects indicated Raiford owed a couple members of the group money for past drug deals.

Jonathan E. Felder, 18, of Arnold told police he believed the group was going to the Valley Royal Court Apartments to film a music video. Several members of the group brought guns with them.

Napier testified that “(Felder) indicated to me something was up, but he was going to stay out of whatever was going on.”

Prosecutors showed surveillance video of a scuffle among Raiford and some members of the group. Guns were seen in the chaotic video as people went in and out of the apartment building between 1:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. July 3 when Raiford was killed.

New Kensington police Detective Sgt. Paul Manke testified that Raiford had 11 gunshot wounds.

Homicide and conspiracy charges were held for court against Felder; Avian Molter, 15, of Uniontown; Elijah R. Gary, 18, of New Kensington; and Raquan Carpenter, 19, of Pittsburgh.

Police contend Amir Kennedy, 14, of New Kensington fired the fatal shot from a rifle. He previously waived his right to a preliminary hearing on homicide charges, as did Bradeon M. Dickinson, 14, of Herminie.

Police have not arrested the seventh suspect: Da’Montae M. Brooks, 15, of New Kensington. Anyone with information on his whereabouts should call 911 or New Kensington police at 724-339-7534.

During a two-hour preliminary hearing Friday, Manke pointed out the actions of each suspect in surveillance video. The suspects ran away from the scene at various times throughout the video. Napier testified about interviews with Gary, Felder and Carpenter after their arrests.

Gary told police Raiford owed him and Carpenter money for previous drug deals.

“When I asked him why they all had guns, he said they all like guns,” Napier testified.

Attorneys for Gary, Felder, Molter and Carpenter argued that homicide and conspiracy charges should be dropped.

“I think it’s very clear who killed the decedent in this case, and it wasn’t my client,” attorney Adam Gorzelsky argued on behalf of Felder.

Members of the group were hanging out together, not conspiring to rob Raiford, argued attorney Valerie Veltri, who was representing Molter. Attorney Emily Smarto said there was no evidence presented that any of the four communicated about a plan.

“There’s nothing to indicate some sort of agreement between this group … to show they were going there to rob this individual or do anything untoward at all,” she said while representing Gary.

Attorney Anne Mancuso argued that Carpenter did not arrive at the apartment complex with the rest of the suspects.

“He’s not in the apartment building when the assault is happening,” she said.

Assistant District Attorney Jackie Knupp said the surveillance video showed the group “acting in concert” with each other.

“Everybody has a role; everybody has a job,” she said.

District Judge Rebecca Tyburski agreed in binding over the charges to the Court of Common Pleas.

“I do believe there was a conspiracy in this case to either get money from the victim or injure him,” she said.