PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh police have filed charges against two men in connection with the May 17, 2024, killing of Justin Ruff and the aggravated assault of another man who sought help at a Duquesne Heights home after being shot.
Jack Castronovo said he will never forget the night a man came running to his home on Plymouth Street, banging on his front door and asking for help. Castronovo’s doorbell camera captured the encounter.
“In two and a half years, I have been asked about 300 times what happened that night,” Castronovo said.
Castronovo helped the wounded man, and his wife called 911, according to his account of the incident.
Investigators later determined that another man, Justin Ruff, had been murdered.
More than two years later, police have charged Romar Watts and Ronald Vahosky in connection with the aggravated assault of the man captured on Castronovo’s doorbell camera and Ruff’s killing.
Investigators used several pieces of evidence in the case, including cell phone records, DNA recovered from a headlamp one of the men allegedly wore, ballistics evidence and surveillance video showing a truck associated with one of the suspects arriving at and leaving the scene, according to the investigation.
Castronovo said he is relieved the case has progressed rather than remaining unsolved.
“It’s good to know that it didn’t turn into a long cold case where years go by, and nobody knows what’s going on,” he said.
He said the charges bring an end to years of uncertainty, though he stopped short of calling it closure.
“I don’t know if I want to use the word closure. But there’s an ending to it. Something that has been a question in our heads for 2.5 years, and now there is finally an end to it, and hopefully justice will be served,” Castronovo said.
Castronovo added that he was saddened by the violence.
“It’s unfortunate. God knows I hate to see anything like that ever happen to anyone,” he said.
Pittsburgh police are actively searching for Watts and Vahosky, according to the report. The investigation remains ongoing.
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