Victim seen on video walking with 2 men before being found dead on city steps

PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh police are working to track down a killer after a man was found shot to death early Thursday morning on a set of city steps in Spring Garden.

Officers were called shortly after midnight to Vinial Street. The scene is next to Pittsburgh Mirror and Glass Company, which has surveillance cameras.

Police said the 40-year-old victim, later identified as John Miller, was from Fort Loudon in central Pennsylvania. The medical examiner ruled his cause of death as gunshot wounds to the head, trunk and extremities and the manner as homicide.

Police found several shell casings on the steps where Miller was found.

"It's just sad. Ya know, seeing a life gone - be no more,” said Jeff Platek, the owner of the Pittsburgh Mirror and Glass Company.

Platek shared surveillance video only with Channel 11 News from the time police believe Miller was shot and killed.

“The three guys walking towards the city steps were leading that guy right to his death,” Platek said about the video.

Miller is seen in the video slowly walking with two men toward the steps. He then goes off camera, where police said he was shot multiple times.

Moments later, one man walks back, and another runs away from the crime scene.

Pittsburgh Police cruisers show up minutes later and find Miller’s body. The surveillance video never shows the gunfire or a weapon.

"We take every homicide very seriously. Any act of violence,” Acting Pittsburgh Police Chief Scott Schubert said.

Schubert wouldn't comment on any potential suspects, but he said Violent Crimes is working the case.

"Everyone is a concern to us, and we want to ensure that we have cooperation of the public as well. That's always helpful,” Schubert said.

Platek said in the meantime, he hopes someone sees the video and it leads to an arrest.

"Two guys walked away from the scene like nothing happened. (They) just went on their way and (left a) guy lying there dead,” he said.

As of Thursday night, no arrests had been made.

Cox Media Group