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Families of unsolved homicide victims turn to social media for justice

PITTSBURGH — With dozens of unsolved homicides in Pittsburgh, the families of some of those victims are banding together and using social media to seek justice for their loved ones.

Autumn Perkins lost the father of her three children, Laron Howard Sr., on July 21, 2013, after he was shot. His case is listed as unsolved, but Perkins does not want his, or many other in the black community, to be forgotten.

"It's like they're just another statistic instead of being an actual victim. We want justice just like everyone else wants justice,” said Perkins.

For this reason, Perkins created the Facebook group called We Need Justice Too. With recent media attention on the Wolfe sisters’ murder, Perkins wants the same for her loved ones.

"That was a tragic, tragic murder, and I hope they do get suspects and they pay. But at the same time, we are feeling some type of way, the other families are feeling some type of way, because we don't get that type of attention," said Perkins.

However, a Pittsburgh police spokesperson said the department takes all homicides with the same level of seriousness and race does not determines the amount of resources a case receives.

Roneka Somerville, another woman looking for justice for her father, sister and brother who were all slain, hopes the new Facebook group promotes law enforcement and communities to come together and bring closure to all.

"Those people that are on that page, they can't speak anymore. We have to be their voice. We have to get out here and we have to advocate. We have to build a relationship with the police department also. We need their help and they need our help as well,” said Somerville.