PITTSBURGH — An East Hills family is grieving after an 18-year-old son, brother, grandson and nephew was shot and killed in his neighborhood Tuesday night.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE >>> Teen shot, killed in Pittsburgh’s East Hills neighborhood
Pittsburgh police said Tristan Taylor, 18, died while walking back from a balloon release honoring the life of his cousin, Jo’Markius Fuller, who was gunned down exactly eight years prior.
Inside of Jokima Brown’s home, you’ll find graduation balloons still intact, three weeks after her son, Tristan, graduated from Allderdice High School.
“I didn’t take anything down. That was just the best day,” Brown said. “He walked across the stage, and that was the proudest moment.”
But on Tuesday night, Tristan and his family were walking home from the balloon release. Brown said they started to pass a group of kids, who began taunting Tristan and other members of her family.
“Tristan was not threatening anybody. He even said, he’s like, ‘Man, chill bro, I’m trying to go home.’ The next thing I know, he’s standing beside me, and the boy shoots him,” Brown said.
Tristan was shot multiple times, taking his last breath inside of his aunt’s home nearby.
“I kept screaming, ‘Tristan – fight, fight,’ and he was trying,” Brown said. “I told my sister, ‘I had to see you go through it.’ She’s like, ‘And now I have to be strong for you.’”
The family is struggling to come to terms with yet another loss. They take comfort, however, in knowing that Tristan, Jo’Markius, and Jonathan - who died by suicide at the age of 10 shortly after Jo’Markius’s death - are now together.
“He worked. He went to school. He was at my sister’s with my mom reading Bible scriptures,” Brown said. “I hate that my son’s life had to be a result of being caught up in [this] because I don’t know where all of this is stemming from.”
Brown says she hopes that justice is soon served and will forever hold one specific picture close to her heart. It was taken right before Tristan passed away.
‘[It’s] the last picture of my child – I’m going to cherish that,” Brown said.
At last check, Pittsburgh police have not made any arrests, but the investigation is ongoing.
Pittsburgh Public Schools issued the following statement to its community:
“We are deeply saddened to learn of the tragic death of Tristan Taylor, a member of the Pittsburgh Allderdice Class of 2026. Tristan was the victim of a shooting that occurred in the East Hills neighborhood of Pittsburgh on Tuesday evening.
Tristan is remembered as a quiet, friendly, respectful, and hardworking young man with a great smile. He graduated with honors, participated in the Start on Success program while working at the Omni Hotel, and planned to attend CCAC in the fall to pursue business.
Those who knew Tristan describe him as the kind of student who could befriend anyone. He was always willing to listen, support others, and make those around him feel seen, whether he had known them for years or had just met them.
Pittsburgh Public Schools cares deeply about the devastating impact gun violence has on our students, families, and community. Our hearts are with Tristan’s family, friends, classmates, and the entire Pittsburgh Allderdice school community during this incredibly difficult time.”
A GoFundMe has been set up to help support Brown after her son’s death.
Click here if you would like to donate.
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