Two teenagers charged in Brighton Heights funeral shooting
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - Two teenagers have been charged in the shooting outside of a funeral in Brighton Heights that sent six people to the hospital.
According to criminal complaints provided to KDKA, 19-year-old Shawn Davis and 16-year-old Hezekiah Nixon are both facing several charges in relation to that shooting.
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Both are facing aggravated assault and attempted homicide charges, as well as firearms violations.
Nixon is also facing a charge of tampering with or fabricating physical evidence.
Pittsburgh Police were able to find the alleged shooters in less than six hours because of surveillance video footage they obtained from nearby businesses and homes.
Court documents detail how surveillance video shows two males walking towards the church, holding guns with extended magazines.
The criminal complaint said one of the suspects could be seen firing shots toward the front of the church and the other suspect fired multiple shots at one of the victims on the sidewalk and chased the victim while firing a gun.
The complaint said a horse that was used to pull a carriage holding a casket appeared to be struck by gunfire. The horse was hit by multiple bullet fragments.
The shooting lasted for less than a minute, then the two shooters were seen on video running from the scene.
According to the criminal complaint, police determined the suspects ran to a Hyundai Elantra, and they identified the license plate on the surveillance video.
Just before 6 p.m. Friday, police stopped Nixon and Davis in the vehicle on the McKees Rocks Bridge.
In court documents, it said Nixon ran from the vehicle and threw a firearm into the river and Davis dropped a gun on the roadway.
Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey issued a statement shortly after the names were released, praising police for their quick work.
"Join me in thanking our first responders, Public Safety Officials, and the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police for their quick work responding to the shooting on Brighton [Road] yesterday.
"Additionally, I want to thank them for their work responding to McKnight [Road] and quickly arresting and charging two people in this case. Thank you to all of the community members who have come forward with information and been working to keep the peace.
"We are committed to doing all we can to find those responsible. Again, if you know anything please call the Major Crimes Unit and let us know at 412-323-7131."
Five people were wounded in the shooting, and the sixth victim was injured as people ran from the scene. The victim with the most serious injuries was shot in the chest and is in critical condition.
ShotSpotter picked up five rounds going off at 12:04 p.m., police said. Just after, it alerted another 15 rounds going off in that area.
The criminal complaint said Davis plead guilty to aggravated assault in 2020. Both teens are in the Allegheny County Jail.
Police believe they have a turf battle raging between rival groups who squared off that night at the gas station nearly two weeks ago. Police sources say some people connected to the funeral victim fired shots at rivals on Thursday night in the Spring Hill neighborhood. Those sources say Friday's shooting may have been the latest retaliation in an escalating conflict.
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