Man, woman found shot dead inside vehicle that crashed into house in Penn Hills

PENN HILLS, Pa. — An apparent domestic violence-related murder-suicide in Penn Hills has left a family grieving the loss of a 43-year-old mother of four.

Neighbors along Elliot Street and Barivista Drive in Penn Hills told Channel 11 they were stunned Tuesday afternoon after hearing several gunshots before police discovered two people dead inside a crashed SUV.

“I said, ‘Oh my God, Karen, I just heard guns.’ I heard something too and I said it went ‘boom, boom, boom, boom and then boom,’” Nettie Schropp recalled.

The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the two people who died as 44-year-old Crystal Russ, who family members identified to us as Crystal Broadus, and 44-year-old William Eugene Broadus.

Crystal’s family members described her as an “angel” and a devoted mother of four.

“It’s something to lose a family member, let alone something like this, so quick. It’s bad. It’s bad,” Tom Jablonski said.

Neighbors reported hearing four to five gunshots shortly before 4 p.m. 

Drone 11 video showed a black SUV that had crashed into a home before it was towed from the scene later Tuesday evening around 8.

According to Crystal’s family, she was in the process of separating from her husband of nearly 10 years and had filed a Protection From Abuse order. 

They said she had been staying at a hotel for the past four days in an effort to stay away.

Police said the shooting happened inside the SUV. Family said the SUV then rolled into a neighbor’s garage. 

Investigators found both Crystal and William dead inside the vehicle.

“It is sad. When I seen the family arrive, I mean, it’s grief; it really and truly is,” Jablonski said.

Neighbors said they are keeping Crystal’s loved ones in their thoughts as they begin to cope with the tragedy.

“God bless them, give them strength. That’s all I can say,” Schropp said.

Police said no one else was injured. 

Anyone with information that could be useful to police is asked to call 1-833-ALL-TIPS. Tips can be made anonymously.

Vehicle crashes into home in Penn Hills; large police presence at the scene A large police presence is at the scene of a crash in Penn Hills.

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