Man killed when shots fired at car during 1 of 2 Hill District shootings

PITTSBURGH — Two shootings in the Hill District Sunday evening left one person dead and three others injured, authorities said.

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There were reports of gunfire in the area of Dinwiddie and Wick streets around 5:20 p.m., officials said.

Channel 11's Jennifer Tomazic reports three men were riding in a car when someone started shooting at them. The driver, 20-year-old Christopher Richardson, of West Oakland, tried to run away, but he was shot and killed.

"It hit very close to home having known the victim and being friends with his mother," said Mayor Bill Peduto. "I know Jackie [Richardson's mother] through the loss of her daughter several years ago. We worked together to build a playground in her memory. And now, again, she's going through this tragedy that no parent should have to go through."

Jacqueline Graham, Richardson’s mother, lost her daughter, Shalane Graham, to a shooting in November 2008. Her daughter was also 20 years old, and she had a 2-year-old daughter and was reported to be pregnant when she died.

Jacqueline spent her last hours with her son at church celebrating the Easter holiday – and his new job that he was supposed to start on Tuesday.

“I want him to be remembered as a great athlete; a great young man with potential … gone before his time,” said the Rev. Glenn Grayson, of Wesley Center AME Zion Church.

Grayson also said that Richardson had a kind heart, and he gave a plea to the community to find those responsible for Richardson's death.

The other two men in the car were wounded, and authorities said their injuries are not life-threatening.

A fourth shooting victim was discovered on Burrows Way at about the same time, but investigators did not believe the cases are connected. That victim is expected to survive.

"This is sort of indicative of what we've seen happening in Pittsburgh and around the country -- senseless violence," said Peduto. "What we're working on right now is making sure that it doesn't end with retaliatory [violence], which is also something that we've seen."

The Homicide Unit is investigating.

Officials said Aaron Myrick, 21, of Carrick, pushed past police lines following the incident and ignored instructions from the officers to stay back.

Police then used a Taser to subdue him. Myrick was arrested and taken to the Allegheny County Jail.

WPXI