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7 people now charged in deadly New Kensington shooting; DA says search for suspects continues

7 people now charged in deadly New Kensington shooting; DA says search for suspects continues
VIOLENCE. TORI: YES, KRISTEN, SEVERAL NEW KENSINGTON COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE URGING TO STOP THE VIOLENCE, AFTER A DEADLY SHOOTING THAT’S NOW LEFT THREE TEENS BEHIND BARS. THE COMMUNITY TELLS ME, THEY WON’T STOP RALLYING UNTIL THEY SEE A CHANGE. ONE MESSAGE, STOP THE VIOLENCE, NOW TURNED INTO A GOAL FOR THE NEW KENSINGTON COMMUNITY. >> WHOEVER IMAGINES TO MAKING IT TO 39, 40 YEARS OLD, AND TO BE KILLED BY A 14-YEAR-OLD? TORI: IT’S THE HARSH REALITY FORCING THIS COMMUNITY TO RALLY WEDNESDAY NIGHT, WITH SIGNS AND THE URGENT MESSAGE TO STOP THE VIOLENCE. >> THIS MEANS THE LIVES OF OUR CHILDREN. TORI: POLICE SAY 39-YEAR-OLD JASON RAIFORD WAS SHOT AND KILLED OUTSIDE OF AN APARTMENT COMPLEX ON SUNDAY. TASHA WILLIAMS SAYS SHE KNOWS THE VICTIM’S FAMILY. >> I’VE SEEN HIM QUITE A FEW TIMES, AND JUST COME ACROSS HIS PATH. I DO KNOW HE WAS A VERY RESPECTFUL GUY, AND HE COMES FROM A VERY RESPECTFUL FAMILY. TORI: THE WESTMORELAND DISTRICT ATTORNEY SAYS THREE OF THE SIX SUSPECTS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SHOOTING ARE IN CUSTODY, 14-YEAR-OLD AMIR KENNEDY, 14-YEAR-OLD BRAEDON DICKINSON, AND 17-YEAR-OLD JONATHAN FELDER. MEANWHILE, DA’MONTAE BROOKS, ELIJAH GRAY, AND AVIAN MOLTER ARE STILL ON THE RUN. >> PLEASE DON’T SHOOT. I LIVE HERE. TORI: DAVID TRENT WITH CHOSEN GENERATION MINISTRY SPEARHEADED THE RALLY. HE SAYS GUN VIOLENCE HAS IMPACTED HIS FAMILY IN RECENT MONTHS. >> IT’S PERSONAL FOR ME, IT’S PERSONAL FOR MY WIFE. SO WE’RE NOT HERE JUST TO MAKE NOISE, JUST TO BE SEEN. WE’RE HERE TO BRING CHANGE TO THIS COMMUNITY. TORI: CALLING FOR CHANGE -- >> IT’S A TRAGEDY ALL AROUND. IT’S A TRAGEDY ALL AROUND. NOT ONLY DID THE RAIFORD FAMILY LOSE THEIR LOVED ONE, NOW, THESE BOYS ARE FACING LIFE IN PRISON, AND IT’S SENSELESS. TORI: WHILE MOURNING THE LIVES LOST AS A RESULT. >> IT’S JUST A SAD, SAD SITUATION. THERE’S A LOT OF LIVES LOST HERE. TORI: THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY ASKS ANYONE WITH INFORMATION ON THE WHEREABOUTS OF GARY, MOLTER, OR BROOKS SHOULD CALL 911 OR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. THIS -- THE THREE SUSPECTS COULD BE ARMED AND DANGEROUS. REPORTING LIVE FROM NEW KENSINGTON, TORI YORGE
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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.

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.

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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.

Amir Kennedy
WTAE
Amir Kennedy

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.

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"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.