Teens shot and killed Pa. woman over cigarette, police say

By: Crimesider Staff
Topics: Daily Blotter

Pictures of Todavia Cleckley, left, and Marcus Velasquez, right, two suspects in the shooting of Kayla Peterson who are still at large.

/ CBS affiliate KDKA

(CBS/AP) BEAVER FALLS, Pa. - A western Pennsylvania mother was shot and killed after she told three teens to "get a job" when she saw them trying to bum a cigarette off her boyfriend, police say.

Beaver Falls police have charged 14-year-olds Todavia Cleckley and Marcus Velasquez and 13-year-old Kyle Goolsby Jr. with conspiracy to commit criminal homicide and other charges in Saturday's shooting of Kayla Peterson, 22. She was shot around 3:30 p.m. that day and died in a Pittsburgh hospital two hours later.

According to police, the teens followed Peterson's boyfriend, William Bailey, home from the store asking him for cigarettes.

"My girlfriend came outside to see what was going on because there was commotion and she told them to go get a job and quit running the streets and quit bumming cigarettes. The kid was standing over in the alleyway and he just shot at her," Bailey said, according to CBS affiliate KDKA.

The police later identified Velasquez as the teen who pulled the gun out and fired one fatal shot.

Under Pennsylvania law Goolsby and Cleckley are charged with conspiracy because they were allegedly part of the overall incident in which Peterson was killed.

Goolsby was arrested Monday, but Cleckley and Velasquez remained at large as of Tuesday. According to KDKA, police expect to arrest the remaining suspects soon.

Officials at Big Beaver Falls Area School District released a statement saying all three suspects have not "been part of the student body or within the district's buildings for over a year," without elaborating.

Bailey said he's struggling with the loss of his fiancé and explaining her death to their daughter, Ellionna, who will be two in January.

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by AlecSevins March 25, 2013 6:49 PM EDT: I have moments where I'd like to clock aggressive punks who ask for money and cigarettes. If they're so poor you think they'd quit that grimy habit. They don't even know how to beg effectively. Coming across as demanding gets you little sympathy.; Reply to this comment

by judymar14 December 13, 2012 12:31 PM EST

No regard for human life, that these two ghetto rats would kill someone over cigarettes. They should be charged as adults and get life. Two more of Obama's sons.

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by rightontarget December 13, 2012 5:33 PM EST: You really had credibility there for awhile, until you made the "Obama" reference.


by AlecSevins March 25, 2013 6:52 PM EDT: You mean like how the "pro life" GOP has such high regard for other people, or the very existence of other species? They want to scrap the ESA (and EPA). All they care about is making sure a clump of human cells finally breathes air, then they wash their hands of the child.

The Obama reference was absurd. He's not ghetto.

by Bj_Angel917 December 13, 2012 10:16 AM EST

I don't understand why the world is like this. I am 17, so not all teens are like that, But when you have kids out here doing stupid things like this then most kids are looked at to be like these two retards up top. It is rediculous. I smoke but I would never kill for a pack of cigarettes. What's the point, you are going to be locked up for a long time , if not forever over a pack of cigarettes.. your life is over. nobody wants to hire a murder or a person charge with conspiracy. you're pathetic !

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by obamasson April 7, 2013 10:24 PM EDT: No, not all teens are like that. Not all teens are colored.


by bjr999 December 12, 2012 10:03 PM EST: The kids have previous records. They were free because of LAWYERS.; Reply to this comment

by realsickofit December 12, 2012 8:03 PM EST

More children like "trayvon"

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by Bj_Angel917 December 13, 2012 10:13 AM EST: Trayvon, was a victim. shot and killed as a victim. it was not self defense and if you read up ad got your facts straight then you would know that. these kids are the ones doing the shooting. so no, they are not like trayvon. they are the complete opposite.


by idl3d3m0n March 27, 2013 10:35 AM EDT: @Bj_Angel917

So you're a victim when you attack someone and THEN get shot? Take your own advice, get YOUR Facts straight!


by notscared46 December 12, 2012 3:13 PM EST: This was senseless and I also hope the law looks at this "juvenile law". The say our young are the future,,if we let this sort of things happen we as humans are doomed,,the animals will run free,; Reply to this comment


by SergeiSimonov December 12, 2012 3:04 PM EST: I for one wait for the fiance to snap and go Puinsher on these ghetto rats. Await to find them on the news with they faces curb stomped.; Reply to this comment


by well_I_say December 12, 2012 1:53 PM EST: These stupid kids parents should probably also be put in jail for raising them to be delinquents.; Reply to this comment

by twmat311 December 12, 2012 12:54 PM EST

And they will be likely processed as juveniles at first. You used to have to be worried about them using foul language, or spray-painting your house or car. Now, an errant remark leaves you dead.

The world has some frightening neighborhoods. Watch your off-the-cuff remarks out there.

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by dman6015 December 12, 2012 1:36 PM EST: No, I think the courts will make an exception in this case. They'll be prosecuted as adults, regardless of their age. Let's hope the judge also allows it to be considered a capital crime. Then they can be put down, like the dirty dogs they are.


by twmat311 December 12, 2012 1:43 PM EST: I hope you're right. Too many times the court goes by chronological age, then only after getting an eyeful / earful, they rethink it. The definition of "juvenile law" needs a revisit with all that's changing.