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Police say shooting of girl, 17, in Homewood ‘not random'

PITTSBURGH — As the search for the person responsible for shooting and killing a 17-year-old girl in Homewood on Saturday continues, police confirmed Monday that the incident was not random.

Officials said Daija McCall was shot Saturday afternoon as she walked down the street at the intersection of Mount Vernon and Blemar streets.

Pittsburgh police spokeswoman Sonya Toler said McCall died at the scene around 3 p.m. Saturday. Officials said Shot Spotter detected at least 11 gunshots. Neighbors who did not want to be identified said they heard gunshots in rapid succession and some bullets pierced the walls of their homes.

McCall's family said the 17-year-old was the type of person who was very giving to strangers, and that she would use her singing voice to lift up the community and stand up for what she believed in. Just two months ago, she sang at the funeral of 6-year-old Isis Allen, who was shot to death on a porch in Knoxville. Isis’ father confirmed Monday that his daughter and McCall were cousins.

Pittsburgh police have yet to release a possible motive or the name of a suspect in McCall’s death.

"First we have to collect the data from this location to determine who and what we are looking for," Toler said Saturday.

Ebony Pugh, spokeswoman for Pittsburgh Public Schools, confirmed McCall was a sophomore at Carrick High School. In a statement, Pugh said:

“We are deeply sadden to learn of the passing of Pittsburgh Carrick student Daija McCall. Daija was the victim of a shooting in Homewood. Student Support Services has arranged for additional support to be in place at the school Monday to assist any student struggling with Daija's passing. Support will additionally be made available to staff. Daija will be missed by all who knew her. Our thoughts are with her family during this difficult time.”

McCall's family said she is survived by her mother, a twin brother and a 5-year-old brother.

Strangers, such as Wynona Hawkins, were also upset to learn of McCall’s death. Hawkins, who lost her son to violence two years ago, said she knows the pain the teen’s family is feeling.

“This is what we’re dealing with and innocent people are getting hurt by this violence. We have to do something. We have to do more than we’re doing as a whole,” she said.

Tim Stevens of The Black Political Empowerment Project said organizations and businesses are working together to stop the violence.

“The problem is so deep now. The roots of this violence (were) planted some years ago, and they keep being watered. We have to plant new roots,” he said.

Anyone with information about Saturday’s shooting is asked to call police.

Cox Media Group

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