Rankin mayor's home raided by law enforcement, sources say
Law enforcement raided the home of Rankin Mayor Joelisa McDonald last month, sources told KDKA.
On Wednesday, a spokesperson for the Allegheny County Police Department said its Violent Crimes and Firearms team served a search warrant at a home on Third Avenue in Rankin on March 14. Sources told KDKA the home belongs to McDonald.
The Allegheny County police spokesperson said one firearm was recovered at the home, and a 16-year-old boy was taken into custody. He was charged as a juvenile with possession of a firearm by a minor, receiving stolen property, and tampering with evidence, authorities said.
KDKA confirmed the 16-year-old is McDonald's son. Sources said he's locked up at the Shuman Juvenile Detention Center.
KDKA went to McDonald's home on Wednesday to get her side of the story, but could not reach her. But the mayor's next-door neighbor did talk.
"It's really a shame," neighbor Peter Manigault said. "I didn't know them that well."
McDonald started serving as Rankin's mayor in 2022. She also serves on the newly formed Eastern Regional Mon Valley Police Commission. She wasn't at Wednesday's meeting in person but did call in.
After the meeting, Rankin Councilwoman Gaye Velar defended Mayor McDonald.
"It's definitely concerning to anybody that lives in the community, but that's not her, that's not her," Velar said. "That is her son."
"Do you have full confidence that she can still serve the community?" KDKA-TV's Jennifer Borrasso asked Velar.
"That's up to her," she said. "That is her decision, not mine."
North Braddock Mayor Cletus Lee was at Wednesday's police commission meeting after the borough council kicked him off as a voting member.
"The mayor of Rankin, she's a very intelligent young lady," he said. "We all go through things in our life."
