7 people now charged in deadly New Kensington shooting; DA says search for suspects continues
UPDATE: A fifth person has been taken into custody in connection with the shooting death of Jason Raiford over the weekend in New Kensington.
Westmoreland County District Attorney Nicole Ziccarelli said Friday that Avian Molter was apprehended by Jeanette police after a traffic violation resulted in a short pursuit. Molter was a passenger in the vehicle.
Two others, Elijah Gray and Da'Montae Brooks, remain at large. Anyone with information on their whereabouts is asked to call 911 or the New Kensington Police Department.
UPDATE: A fourth person was taken into custody Thursday as police continued to investigate the death of Jason Raiford in New Kensington, Westmoreland County.
Raquan Carpenter, of Pittsburgh, is charged with homicide, robbery, aggravated assault, conspiracy and carrying a firearm without a license, according to a statement from District Attorney Nicole Ziccarelli's office.
"This individual was known to us, but not immediately identified. Earlier today he was identified and promptly apprehended by New Kensington Police Department and Westmoreland County detectives," the statement said.
Ziccarelli said police are still looking for Elijah Gary (a.k.a. "Mono"/"Monster"), of New Kensington, and Da'Montae Brooks (a.k.a. "Bud") and Avian Molter (a.k.a. "Shiesty"), both of Fayette County. Anyone who knows their whereabouts is asked to call 911 or New Kensington police at 724-339-7534.
PREVIOUS: Three teenagers were in custody Wednesday, charged in connection with a fatal shooting, and the Westmoreland County district attorney said authorities were still searching for three more suspects.
Watch the breaking news report from New Kensington: Click the video player above.
The victim, identified as Jason Raiford, was found outside a housing complex on Fifth Avenue in New Kensington around 2:30 p.m. Sunday.
On Tuesday, five people were charged with criminal homicide, murder of the second degree, two counts of robbery, aggravated assault, criminal conspiracy and possession of a firearm by a minor, District Attorney Nicole Ziccarelli said in a news release.
Ziccarelli identified those charged as Da'Monte Brooks, Elijah Gary, Jonathan Felder, Avian Molter and Braedon Dickinson.
The DA said additional charges were filed against 14-year-old Amir Kennedy, including murder in the second degree, two counts of robbery, aggravated assault and criminal conspiracy.
Dickinson, 14, was in custody and arraigned Wednesday afternoon, and Felder, 17, was taken into custody later in the afternoon.
Pittsburgh's Action News 4 video showed a third person, who police later confirmed was Kennedy, being taken into the New Kensington police station early Wednesday evening.
Ziccarelli said anyone who knows the whereabouts of Gary (a.k.a. "Mono"/"Monster"), of New Kensington, or Brooks (a.k.a. "Bud") and Molter (a.k.a. "Shiesty"), both of Fayette County, is asked to call 911 or New Kensington police at 724-339-7534.
On Wednesday night some New Kensington community members held a rally to 'Stop the Violence,' following the recent shooting.
"Whoever imagines making it to 39 years old and to be killed by a 14-year-old," said Tasha Williams. "That's got to be tragic for not just the victim's family but for the kids involved. It's one of the saddest things I've ever seen,"
David Trent with Chosen Generation Ministry spearheaded the rally and said they will be rallying every night until they see a change.
"Really sad because, anytime you see a 14-year-old able to pull a trigger and do the devastation that we heard happened to this young man, you know that our society is in big trouble," said Trent. "I'm going to be out here every day until God says stop. I'm hoping that this movement will turn into a movement and it will begin to grow."
"If you know them personally, please encourage them to turn themselves in to the nearest law enforcement agency," Ziccarelli said in the statement. "These individuals may be armed and dangerous, so we ask the public to remain vigilant."
Authorities said the investigation was ongoing.