News

McKeesport contractor shot, killed in vacant Homewood house

HOMEWOOD, Pa. — A McKeesport contractor and father of four was shot and killed during an argument Tuesday afternoon outside a vacant home in Homewood.

According to police, 39-year-old Glenn “Pookie” Walker Jr. was fatally shot and Raheem Watson was injured outside a home on Albion Street just before 4:30 p.m.

Police said Walker, Watson and at least one other person were discussing work at the two-story dwelling when an argument began.

It was not immediately clear who was involved in the shooting, but several neighbors reported hearing "a lot" of gunshots.

A gun that had been fired was found next to Walker, whose body lay in the middle of the street, Pittsburgh police spokeswoman Sonya Toler said. Police said he died of multiple gunshot wounds.

Watson was treated at UPMC Presbyterian for a wound in the eye. His mother told Channel 11 News he had surgery on Wednesday.

Investigators are trying to locate the third person.

Channel 11's Jennifer Tomazic talked to Walker's mother, Nancy Walker, on Wednesday; she remembered her son fondly. She said he was loved by everyone and didn't have enemies.

“He got along with everyone and everyone got along with him. That’s how I want him to be remembered. He was a good young man,” Nancy Walker said.

She said he was a contractor with his childhood friend, Watson, and they had been fixing up homes in Homewood.

“For someone to do what they did, that was uncalled for,” said Nancy Walker. “Give yourself up and turn yourself in. No good is going to come of this.”

Walker’s mother said her son had four children, ages 19, 18, 17 and 15.

The violence upset residents of the neighborhood, which has been undergoing extensive renovation with a dozen homes being built nearby on Finance Street. Other construction is taking place a block away on North Homewood Avenue.

"It sickens us," said Candace Foster, 45. "That's someone's child, someone's brother, someone's father. I don't appreciate being robbed of our sense of security in our homes."

Dartecka Woods, 40, said she rushed home from work when her daughter called to say she heard gunshots.

"It's scary. It makes me want to get out of here. Usually, the only thing we have to deal with is people running stop signs here."

So far, no arrests have been made. Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call city homicide detectives at 412-323-7161.

Channel 11’s news exchange partners at TribLIVE contributed to this report.