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Trafford man charged with homicide in Saturday shooting

A day after his 29th birthday, Pittsburgh police charged a Trafford man with homicide in a shooting incident in Homewood early Saturday morning.

Christopher Robert Papalia, 29, was charged after the incident at the intersection of Frankstown Avenue and North Braddock Avenue. Police responded to the area and found Julian Isaiah Carter, 30, of Turtle Creek, face down in the street with a gunshot wound to the head. Carter was pronounced dead at the scene.

While investigating, police said a man approached officers. His clothes were covered in fresh blood. The man was identified as Papalia, who told police that he shot Carter, according to a criminal complaint. Court documents also say that Papalia had called 911 after the incident, gave his name and told dispatchers that he had shot Carter.

“I didn’t want to shoot him, but then he’s dead,” Papalia told dispatchers according to the criminal complaint. “My shirt is very bloody. My coat is very bloody.”

Police said a search of Papalia turned up a spring-assisted knife, which is illegal in Pennsylvania.

He is currently being held in the Allegheny County Jail after bail was denied, and a preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 28.