NEW KENSINGTON, Pa. — Police in New Kensington announced Thursday that they have identified a suspect in an unsolved double homicide that left the community shaken.
But it turns out, that man is dead.
Investigators said they believe 18-year-old Brian Hall, of Penn Hills, is responsible for the shooting deaths of Shannon Bongartz and John Russ.
Police said Hall was shot and killed in Homewood just one day after the double slaying on 4th Avenue in August.
Bongartz and Russ were killed in front of Russ' home.
Police said Hall was a known heroin dealer and had issues with Russ. Investigators believe the shooting was over drugs and an apparent debt.
"Our deceased, Mr. Russ, had actually ripped off Hall for a substantial amount of money and some drugs," said Chief Tom Klawinsky of the New Kensington Police Department.
While police initially suspected Hall, they said they spent the last seven weeks tying up loose ends, sorting through evidence and ruling out other possible suspects.
"It has taken us this long to get to that point to say, 'This is our guy,'" said Klawinsky.
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