Hello - I am new here, so I hope I am posting this correctly. This case really grabbed my attention so I started picking it apart. The article that really made me start digging was
http://triblive.com/news/allegheny/10127463-74/powell-shelton-target
I found the quote by Daniel Coates and his choice of words, imho, felt "odd" as if he is putting distance between himself and "that family". He claims to barely know them despite being the father of Chanetta Powell's 8-month old and the same person that LaMont Powell "pointed a handgun at him before punching and kicking him in the face". He and Chanetta Powell had an ongoing custody dispute regarding 8 month old child (whom I believe was present inside the house when her mother was killed) - yet he never stated he was relieved the baby was okay or anything concerning for the loss off his child's entire other side of the family...
[FONT=open_sansregular]In December, Pittsburgh police arrested and charged him with assault following an altercation involving an Indiana County man at his sister Chanetta Powell's Marshall-Shadeland residence. The case is listed as inactive. Chanetta Powell was killed in Wednesday's rampage.[/FONT]
[FONT=open_sansregular]The Homer City man who was involved in a custody dispute with Chanetta Powell over an 8-month-old girl said he hardly knew her brother or the rest of her family.[/FONT]
[FONT=open_sansregular]“I'm really scared of the whole thing. I don't want anybody coming after me,” said Daniel Coates, who told police LaMont Powell pointed a handgun at him before punching and kicking him in the face. “I don't know why that family got murdered like that. It's very sad.”[/FONT]
[FONT=open_sansregular]Jessica Shelton said LaMont Powell was sticking up for his sister.
[/FONT]So I decided to find out who he was via the Allegheny County Court Records (if someone tells me how to link this stuff I can post it) and found out that Chanetta Powell and Daniel Coates were in a custody dispute regarding 8 month old daughter. Lamont Powell had the altercation with Coates in December 2015 where he punched, kicked and pointed the gun, Jessica Shelton said in article that Lamont was sticking up for his sister by doing so according to this article.
The records indicated that Chanetta (some of this is copied/pasted from my own notes)
[FONT=open_sansregular]recently (2/24/16) petitioned the court to waiver mediation with Mr Coates due to domestic violence issues with him. The custody hearing was scheduled for 3/23/2016. -
D. Coates is married since 2011 to L. Coates - she is mentioned in the custody docs as a resident with D Coates so I'm sure they must still be together. their FB accounts certainly look that way.
[/FONT][FONT=open_sansregular]This case reeks of a suspect and motive very close to the family. The fact that the Petition to Waiver Mediation was filed 2/24/16 makes me think that by the time he was notified by the court, probably through the mail, fits into the course of events and is possibly what fueled the rage.
This guy would/could have easily found out the gathering was taking place (perhaps had some contact with Chanetta via phone - no PFA or No Contact Order was found) He only lives an hour or so from the area (if the article is correct regarding his location Homer City/Indiana County). so it wouldn't be difficult or take a lot of planning to get there.
Below is total speculation:
Maybe his wife was the person in the alley driving the victims to him. The alley shooter didn't shoot anyone, only into the air... Though women aren't frequently involved in this kind of crime, they can often be manipulated by love and convinced their part in it is minor and their hands are clean despite carrying out a crime. The fact so many women were killed, makes me "feel" as if a woman was somehow involved. She may have even been a driving force behind it, fueled by her adulterous husband and jealousy. Perhaps he had someone else take care of business. That I do not know. Everything written by me is based on my opinion [/FONT]
[FONT=open_sansregular]I do know, by reading the county court docs, is that this guy wanted custody of he & Chanetta Powell's 8 month old daughter. Chanetta's brother LaMont stepped in to defend his sister in December 2015 during an argument about custody.
The following is just my opinion and crazy speculations and is in no way facts regarding the case, just what my gut tells me -
From media coverage of this tragedy, these siblings all seemed very close to each other which leads me to believe that Chanetta's other siblings (Not just Lamont) most likely had words with Mr Coates and he didn't like that. He was hell bent on winning, probably has a marriage that is on the brink of falling apart because his adultery (poss 2nd child on the way Chanetta was 8 months pregnant when murdered) and went berserk or had someone else take care of it. The attacks seem to personal to be a revenge killing. Who waits 3 years and on some random nice day in March to do this? Wouldn't someone out for revenge pick Christmas or another holiday known for family gatherings to pull this off?? [/FONT]
[FONT=open_sansregular]I wanted to tell you all my findings, & interject my personal opinions and speculations regarding this case. I'm happy to link the court docs I uncovered if someone tells me how to do it or can do it for me the Allegheny County Records site for this case is: https://dcr.alleghenycounty.us/CaseDetails.asp?CaseID=FD-15-009390
the case number is FD-15-009390 - I had to create a log in for the court records site so I'm unsure if the link will take you directly to it or not
I would love to hear what you all think about my speculation above... I still haven't ruled out Ace & Ace and am currently trying to figure out who (John?) Ellis is - I believe that was the other guy shot & still hospitalized [/FONT]
Welcome and so thank you. I registered and tried to to cut and paste and it did not do it. I tried to link the documnets but it wont do it unless one is logged in.
I agree , I think this is the "birth" of that awful night.
From looking at the docket this was not a case of a a parent saying well I wont let you see Jimmy". These folks, both sides were serious about battling this out via the courts. From looking at the docket, to the time of the murderers it looked as if they had been dancing with the system for about 13 weeks.
Looks like the battle formaly begain first week in Dec 15.
Certified mail stuff, lawyers, classes to be taken,
[TABLE="width: 100%"]
[TR="bgcolor: #ffffee"]
[TD]6/2016[/TD]
[TD="align: left"]Consent Order of Court[/TD]
[TD="align: left"]Generations Contempt for Failure to Pay and/or Appear for the Generations Program Consent Order of Court Dated: 02/24/2016. Respondent is in contempt and shall purge by proceeding to the Child Custody Department window immediately this date and reschedule Generations' education and conciliation and attend as ordered. Mother has file a Domestic Violence waiver this date, therefore mediation is waived. Petitioner shall be present at all future contempt proceedings. Failure to do so shall result in a dismissal of their current request for court action. (Clark, A.J.) See Order as Specified. [/TD]
[TD]Coates Daniel W. [/TD]
[TD]
Document 12[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="bgcolor: #eeeedd"]
[TD]02/26/2016[/TD]
[TD="align: left"]Initial Custody Conciliation Scheduling Order[/TD]
[TD="align: left"]Order of Court: DRO Custody Conciliation Dated: 02/24/2016. Scheduled for a Custody Conciliation before the Domestic Relations Officer on 03/23/2016 at 8:30 AM because: A party has filed a Domestic Violence Waiver. (Clark, A.J.) See Order as Specified. [/TD]
[TD]Coates Daniel W. [/TD]
[TD]
Document 11[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="bgcolor: #ffffee"]
[TD]02/26/2016[/TD]
[TD="align: left"]Order for Ed/Med Seminar[/TD]
[TD="align: left"]Order of Court for Generations Program: Education Seminar Dated: 02/24/2016. Both parties shall attend one (1) education seminar on 03/19/2016 at 9:00 AM on the second floor of the Family Law Center, 440 Ross Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219. (Clark, A.J.) [/TD]
[TD]Coates Daniel W. [/TD]
[TD]
Document 10[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="bgcolor: #eeeedd"]
[TD]02/26/2016[/TD]
[TD="align: left"]Request[/TD]
[TD="align: left"]Request for Waiver of Generations Mediation Orientation Session because of Domestic Violence or Child Abuse. Dated: 02/24/2016. [/TD]
[TD]Powell Chanetta Lorae [/TD]
[TD]
Document 13[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="bgcolor: #ffffee"]
[TD]02/16/2016[/TD]
[TD="align: left"]Generations/Evaluation Contempt Order[/TD]
[TD="align: left"]Dated: 02/10/16. To date, the respondent failed to attend mediation, education was waived due to inclement weather. [/TD]
[TD]Coates Daniel W. [/TD]
[TD]
Document 8[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="bgcolor: #eeeedd"]
[TD]02/16/2016[/TD]
[TD="align: left"]Rule to Show Cause[/TD]
[TD="align: left"]Dated: 02/10/16. The Rule shall be returnable on 02/24/16 at 9:00 AM. (Clark, J.) See order as specified. [/TD]
[TD]Coates Daniel W. [/TD]
[TD]
Document 9[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="bgcolor: #ffffee"]
[TD]01/14/2016[/TD]
[TD="align: left"]Affidavit of Service[/TD]
[TD="align: left"]of complaint for custody upon the defendant by process server on 01/13/2016. [/TD]
[TD]Coates Daniel W. [/TD]
[TD]
Document 7[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="bgcolor: #eeeedd"]
[TD]01/05/2016[/TD]
[TD="align: left"]Order for Ed/Med Seminar[/TD]
[TD="align: left"]Dated 1/5/2016 Chanetta Powell shall attend one (1) education seminar on 1/23/2016 at 9:00AM at the Family Law Center. This seminar must be completed within four weeks from the date of this Order. Mandatory Mediation Session is scheduled for 2/10/2016 at 10:30AM. (Clark, J.) See Order as Specified [/TD]
[TD]Powell Chanetta Lorae [/TD]
[TD]
Document 6[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="bgcolor: #ffffee"]
[TD]12/28/2015[/TD]
[TD="align: left"]Affidavit of Service[/TD]
[TD="align: left"]Of Complaint in Custody upon defendant, Chanetta Lorae Powell by certified mail on 12/10/2015. Return receipt attached. [/TD]
[TD]Coates Daniel W. [/TD]
[TD]
Document 5[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="bgcolor: #eeeedd"]
[TD]12/22/2015[/TD]
[TD="align: left"]Order of Court[/TD]
[TD="align: left"]Dated: 12/21/15. It is hereby ordered that the Respondent failed to appear at the Generations education seminar on 12/19/15 as per the 12/07/15 order of court. (Clark, J.) See order as specified. [/TD]
[TD]Coates Daniel W. [/TD]
[TD]
Document 4[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="bgcolor: #ffffee"]
[TD]12/07/2015[/TD]
[TD="align: left"]Complaint in Custody (Initial)[/TD]
[TD="align: left"] [/TD]
[TD]Coates Daniel W. [/TD]
[TD]
Document 1[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="bgcolor: #eeeedd"]
[TD]12/07/2015[/TD]
[TD="align: left"]Criminal Record/Abuse History Verification[/TD]
[TD="align: left"] [/TD]
[TD]Coates Daniel W. [/TD]
[TD]
Document 2[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="bgcolor: #ffffee"]
[TD]12/07/2015[/TD]
[TD="align: left"]Order of Court[/TD]
[TD="align: left"]Order of Court for Generations Program: Education and Mediation, 12/07/15, the parties shall attend a education seminar on 12/19/15 at 9:00 am. The parties shall also attend a mediation session on 01/20/16 at 10:30 am. (CLARK J) See Order [/TD]
[TD]Coates Daniel W. [/TD]
[TD]
Document 3[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
I had to create account as well, but it gives us an idea of timeframes etc .
It is obvoous this was not a like verbal deal "I wont let you see Jimmy" type deal. Lawyers are involved, particpants were doing the dance with the system and it appears it had been going on formally for about 13s by the time of the murders.
https://dcr.alleghenycounty.us/Case...gFromWelcomeScreen=&BeginDate=&EndDate=&From=