Landscaping Crew Member Shot, Killed In Penn Hills

PENN HILLS, Pa. (KDKA) - A homicide investigation is underway after police say a 24-year-old man who was part of a landscaping crew working in Penn Hills was shot and killed Tuesday morning.

Neighbors tell KDKA kids had just gotten on the school bus when they heard at least nine rounds fired.

"I was sitting in my car when I came back from the stores and I heard a lot of gunshots, so I ducked down in the car," said Greg Franklin, who lives nearby.

Allegheny County Police say first responders found the victim, identified by the medical examiner as Robert Higginbotham, dead with multiple gunshot wounds in the 7700 block of Mount Carmel Road.

"The young man was still alive when I got up there, he was shot nine times and tried to crawl out of the truck, and we said, 'don't move him.' That's when I went to the fire department," Franklin said.

As homicide detectives launched an investigation, Faybern Drive at Mt. Carmel Road was shut down.

Detectives could be seen going door-to-door trying to get information from neighbors. Police say witnesses described the suspect as a Black male wearing a black hoodie and blue jeans. He ran towards Mount Carmel Cemetery, police say.

"Witnesses said that the victim was in the truck and the suspect walked down there, might have been some words exchanged. We are still working to clarify that, and the suspect shot through the truck's window striking the victim," said LT. Venerando Costa with Allegheny County Police.

Costa told KDKA the shooting was targeted, and the shooter came looking for the victim.

Anyone with information is asked to call Allegheny County Police.

Stay with KDKA for the latest on this developing story.

In:
• Shooting
• Deadly Shooting
• Fatal Shooting
• Murder
• Penn Hills