Sewickley man charged in Pittsburgh teen's homicide

A Sewickley man is charged in connection with the killing of a teenage boy this month in Pittsburgh, according to police, who said the man sent video of the teen’s last moments to at least one other person.

In addition to homicide, Joseph Koller, 20, faces charges of aggravated assault and reckless endangerment in the May 9 shooting that killed 17-year-old Isaiah Anderson and wounded two other people.

Investigators, acting on a tip that the alleged shooters were in a silver BMW, said they used surveillance footage from Pittsburgh’s Allentown neighborhood to help track down Koller.

A criminal complaint filed in the case said the BMW was seen driving along several neighborhood streets near East Warrington Avenue, Millbridge Street and Manton Way. In each camera shot, police said, the front passenger is seen wearing a light gray hoodie with two black drawstrings and a pocket with a zipper on the left chest area.

Surveillance showed the car on Millbridge crossing East Warrington near Adan Market before the shooting, police said. A minute later, police said two people from the BMW could be seen in the surveillance footage walking through the grassy lot next to the market before both draw guns and start shooting at Anderson and another person.

At least 29 rounds were fired, according to the criminal complaint. Anderson was hit multiple times in the head and torso.

The two people from the BMW could be seen in the surveillance footage running back toward Allen Street on Carnival Way after the shooting, according to the complaint.

Ten days after the shooting, police stopped the BMW in Moon. Four people were inside, including the car’s owner, Koller.

Koller told police he occasionally acts as a jitney driver to make extra money, according to the complaint. Police said he told them he dropped off two people at Adan Market on the night of the shooting. Asked why he didn’t drop them off directly in front of the market, Koller asked for an attorney, the complaint said.

A witness who was in the car with Koller when it was pulled over said Koller had previously said the “car is hot on the South Side,” according to the complaint. The witness offered up their phone to police, who found a text message from Koller that read, “I have a stain,” the complaint said. Police said such a phrase can be used to refer to having committed a shooting or homicide.

Police said Koller also sent the witness a video showing Anderson lying on the sidewalk in front of Adan Market while police tried to save his life.

Koller, in addition to homicide, aggravated assault and reckless endangerment, is charged with conspiracy and hindering apprehension. He is being held in Allegheny County Jail without bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 3. Court records did not list an attorney as of Thursday morning.

Police said the investigation is ongoing.