ME rules assault victim's death as homicide

PITTSBURGH — Police are investigating the death of a local man who was assaulted last month as a homicide.

Officers responded to a call for an assault along on East Warrington Avenue on Aug. 15 and found Lawrence Andrews, 74, unconscious on the ground with a head injury, police said.

According to police, a witness told homicide investigators that she heard Andrews scream and saw a man running away from the scene.

Andrews regained consciousness and was taken to a Pittsburgh hospital, where he died Sept. 3.

“It’s very sad. One minute my dad was there sitting next to me on the couch and now he’s dead,” Andrews’ son, Larry Andrews, said.

Investigators received information that Andrews was assaulted by a white male, but they have released no other information and no arrests have been made, police said.

Eugene Smith, who was Andrews’ neighbor on Albert Street, described the retired sheet metal worker as a good man.

“He was a heck of a nice guy. I never had any trouble with him,” Smith said.

Anyone with information on Andrews’ death is asked to contact police.

WPXI