Man charged for October homicide in Pittsburgh’s Highland Park neighborhood

PITTSBURGH — Police have arrested 20-year-old Deashawn Watson, the man they say is responsible for the shooting death of 18-year-old Omar McCord Jr., who was shot and left for dead in an alleyway in Highland Park on Oct. 24.

The teen’s murder — just two blocks from busy restaurants on Bryant Street in Highland Park — shook neighbors two weeks ago.

They said they heard about six to eight shots around 11 p.m.

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Police received multiple 911 calls and went to investigate, but it wasn’t until the next morning that someone found McCord slumped over the wheel of his car on Ionic and Millbrae Way.

Police confirmed they investigated those 911 calls but didn’t see the victim because his body was in an alley and it was dark when they arrived at the location.

McCord had just graduated from Pittsburgh Public Schools in May.

His alma mater, University Preparatory School, Milliones 6-12, provided this statement:

“Our school community said goodbye to another light from the class of 2022, Omar M. McCord Jr. Omar was blessed with the gift of humor and personality. His wit and demeanor put a smile on the faces.”

The teenager was from Garfield, and his family said they didn’t know why he was in Highland Park that night.

Police didn’t share a motive during their weekly debriefing on Thursday, but they did announce the arrest of Deashawn Watson.

“He is currently in the Allegheny County Jail. He’s in there on unrelated charges,” said Cmdr. Richard Ford of the major crimes unit.

Those unrelated charges helped police connect Watson to the murder.

According to officers, less than an hour after the shooting, Watson led police on a high-speed chase in a stolen car through the Lincoln-Lemington neighborhood and crashed into a parked construction trailer on Apple Street less than two miles from where McCord was murdered.

At the time, Watson was only charged with possession of stolen property and carrying an unlicensed gun.

“This is the result of many hours of hard work,” Ford said.

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