PA - Mass shooting, five adults & unborn child dead, Wilkinsburg, March 2016

[CARIIS]

Police talked to one victim at the hospital, but said they don't have enough for a description.

http://www.cnn.com/2016/03/11/us/pennsylvania-wilkinsburg-shooting/index.html

A closer look at crimes:

2014:

• Total Number of Incidents
  51,811​
• Number of Deaths[SUP]1[/SUP]
  12,585​
• Number of Injuries[SUP]1[/SUP]
  23,042​
• Number of Children (age 0-11) Killed/Injured[SUP]1[/SUP]
  626​
• Number of Teens (age 12-17) Killed/Injured[SUP]1[/SUP]
  2,372​
• Mass Shooting[SUP]2[/SUP]
  280​
• Officer Involved Incident[SUP]2[/SUP]
  3,217​
• Home Invasion[SUP]2[/SUP]
  2,610​
• Defensive Use[SUP]2[/SUP]
  1,584​
• Accidental Shooting[SUP]2[/SUP]
  1,603
  
  ----------------------------------------------------------------
  
  2015
  

  • Total Number of Incidents 53,108
  • Number of Deaths[SUP]1[/SUP] 13,393
  • Number of Injuries[SUP]1[/SUP] 26,988
  • Number of Children (age 0-11) Killed/Injured[SUP]1[/SUP] 697
  • Number of Teens (age 12-17) Killed/Injured[SUP]1[/SUP] 2,690
  • Mass Shooting[SUP]2[/SUP] 330
  • Officer Involved Incident[SUP]2[/SUP] 4,380
  • Home Invasion[SUP]2[/SUP] 2,344
  • Defensive Use[SUP]2[/SUP] 1,289
  • Accidental Shooting[SUP]2[/SUP] 1,958

  --------------------------------------------------------------2016
  
  
  

  • otal Number of Incidents 9,378
  • Number of Deaths[SUP]1[/SUP] 2,366
  • Number of Injuries[SUP]1[/SUP] 4,756
  • Number of Children (age 0-11) Killed/Injured[SUP]1[/SUP] 102
  • Number of Teens (age 12-17) Killed/Injured[SUP]1[/SUP] 523
  • Mass Shooting[SUP]2[/SUP] 45
  • Officer Involved Incident[SUP]2[/SUP] 897
  • Home Invasion[SUP]2[/SUP] 420
  • Defensive Use[SUP]2[/SUP] 283
  • Accidental Shooting[SUP]2[/SUP] 483

  
  
  
  http://www.gunviolencearchive.org/past-tollsGun violence and crime incidents are ollected/validated from 1,500 sources daily – incidents and their source data are found at the ​

 

[Margo/Mom]

I Ninj

The more I learn the more messed up it gets. It is like a old Chicago gang land ...sign on the bottom line purchase order for some "murders"

It is really gross and quite upsetting. I realized I have spent hours today, kinda unconcs looking for the "why"

I then realized that even if we get some sort of "why" we will still be asking "Why"...............

Troubling indeed..................my dear

they have been saying : gunmen appeared to have targeted one or two of the victims, all day and all day I have tried to figure out how they could tell that --- so many folks were shot a lot more than Lamar any ideas guys??

I think that the police are going on knowledge of a prior killing in which Lamont was a suspect, although never charged. Several years back, but as they say, revenge is a dish best served cold.

I think that the Chicago gangster comparison is apt. And we know that the old gangland crime was driven in part by prohibition--something not clearly embraced by the population. While there is a lot of rhetoric blaming things like lack of positive male role models for gang involvement today, I think that the reality is that it is being driven by an underground, thriving and highly competitive drug economy. And while legit marketplaces enjoy some level of legal parameters and protections, in an underground economy, all protections are extra-legal. Hence, competing "businesses" employ such means as murder to drive off competition. And influence frequently continues even after killers are imprisoned. And, at the end of the day, such enforcement mechanisms are sloppy at best. Family members, kids and neighbors get caught in the crossfire. This, IMHO, tends to heighten the rivalry and revenge motives.

 

[ninij9]

Sadly I have become jaded a d numbed to the daily headlines of shootings in America. We have made our bed and we are sleeping in it, and dying in it. But this shooting is obscene. To be in your own backyard, playing cards, enjoying your cousin's, aunts and uncles and be mowed down like crabgrass. I'm. Just. Sick.
Furthermore, who in their right mind is going to come forward and snitch on such ruthless people? People that will kill your whole family? I'm not ashamed to admit that I would keep my lip zipped, light a candle and try to move if I could. But tell what I know and endanger my children? Siblings? Parents? I just couldn't.

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

 

[DropthePuck]

From what I've read, this barbeque was an unplanned, last minute thing that occurred because the weather was so nice. Somehow, these ruthless, vile killers were made aware of it. I shudder to think the tipster could be someone the family saw as a friend and just invited over for an impromptu gathering, not realizing the "friend" would tip off the killers. JMO.

 

[passionflower]

6 dead (including 8 month unborn baby)
survivor was the target
11 children motherless
http://www.wpxi.com/news/news/local/multiple-people-dead-wilkinsburg-mass-shooting/nqhGQ/
The search continues for gunmen who ambushed a backyard get-together Wednesday night in Wilkinsburg, claiming the lives of six people, including an 8-month-old unborn child, and wounding three others.

 

[passionflower]

I lost three children and two nieces," said a tearful Jessica Shelton -- the mother of Jerry Shelton, both Powell sisters and a fourth victim, Lamont Powell, who remained in critical condition; and the aunt of Tina Shelton and Shada Mahone.
She said the family had gathered for a cookout "because we like to embrace each other, enjoy the sunny day."

 

[passionflower]

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/sources-survivor-of-pittsburgh-area-mass-shooting-may-have-been-target/

2 shooters

 

[CARIIS]

From what I've read, this barbeque was an unplanned, last minute thing that occurred because the weather was so nice. Somehow, these ruthless, vile killers were made aware of it. I shudder to think the tipster could be someone the family saw as a friend and just invited over for an impromptu gathering, not realizing the "friend" would tip off the killers. JMO.

It is just so creepy in terms of planning. You go over and just start shooting and I will take care of it it. None of the first persons shots, 8 feet away hit anyone.

Where IMO the terror is is in the herding part of the plan - just drive em toward me and I will shoot them all in the skull - that is just too much for a movie but in real life - I just cant grasp "talking about" the plan

 

[CARIIS]

Sadly I have become jaded a d numbed to the daily headlines of shootings in America. We have made our bed and we are sleeping in it, and dying in it. But this shooting is obscene. To be in your own backyard, playing cards, enjoying your cousin's, aunts and uncles and be mowed down like crabgrass. I'm. Just. Sick.
Furthermore, who in their right mind is going to come forward and snitch on such ruthless people? People that will kill your whole family? I'm not ashamed to admit that I would keep my lip zipped, light a candle and try to move if I could. But tell what I know and endanger my children? Siblings? Parents? I just couldn't.

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

Hi my dear

you found the word I have been looking for ---obscene. I concur, we know what happens if this entity is pissed off and it aint cival or human .

Zipped shut . And it is kinda congruent with the lack of like LE getting close-probably never find them -- they are pros in the business I guess, which makes it all more repulsive.

This is a bucketfull of loss...........

I dont know --this really bugs me-- in terms of the planning of evil, like herding - there is something wildly repulsive in terms of just knowing in advance, and anticpating what homo sapians will do with bullets flying--they will go this way.

Its really awful - am I the only one feeling this way ?? It. is. evil.

 

[CARIIS]

I think that the police are going on knowledge of a prior killing in which Lamont was a suspect, although never charged. Several years back, but as they say, revenge is a dish best served cold.

I think that the Chicago gangster comparison is apt. And we know that the old gangland crime was driven in part by prohibition--something not clearly embraced by the population. While there is a lot of rhetoric blaming things like lack of positive male role models for gang involvement today, I think that the reality is that it is being driven by an underground, thriving and highly competitive drug economy. And while legit marketplaces enjoy some level of legal parameters and protections, in an underground economy, all protections are extra-legal. Hence, competing "businesses" employ such means as murder to drive off competition. And influence frequently continues even after killers are imprisoned. And, at the end of the day, such enforcement mechanisms are sloppy at best. Family members, kids and neighbors get caught in the crossfire. This, IMHO, tends to heighten the rivalry and revenge motives.

I think I kinda thought this died in the 50's!

Neatly written post IMO!

 

[CARIIS]

Man

It is pathetic when one is trying to get caught up on the happenings in the world and one cant tell , remember, differentiate, between one mass murder or another.

I juat had two where it was like did I hear about this one already?

That is me##ED UP .............

 

[1&2&3]

The point that causes me concern is if this was a last minute get-together, then how did word get to the killers so fast?

If the killing team was from out of town, they must not have lived too far away in able to respond as quickly as they did to this last minute bar-b-que.

Who is the connection in the family to alert the killers? Where do the two strangers invited to the party fit in? The killers were pretty brazen to escape on foot. Was a car waiting down the street or around the corner? And why was Lamont never charged if it is thought he was involved in a shooting?

Too many questions and if Lamont passes, the answers may be hard to discover.

 

[Starry Night]

I think I kinda thought this died in the 50's!

Neatly written post IMO!

Al Capone (aka SCARFACE) in the late 20's and early 30's.......
Those gangsters had in place already very lucrative enterprises, but when Prohibition was voted in-the escalation of gangland multiple killings shocked the nation.

 

[shana]

Wilkinsburg gunmen's possible target fights for life

Lots of information in this article, including a history of LaMont Powell's contacts with LE.

~jmo~

 

[shana]

Authorities mum on investigation into Wilkinsburg killings

Investigators continued to conduct interviews Friday in the investigation of the ambush slaying of five people and an unborn child at a backyard cookout in Wilkinsburg, but authorities refused to say whether any progress had been made.


At a short press briefing Friday afternoon, Allegheny County police Lt. Andrew Schurman would say only that, “At this point the investigation is very active and ongoing.”

(more at link above)

~jmo~

 

[CARIIS]

Authorities mum on investigation into Wilkinsburg killings

Investigators continued to conduct interviews Friday in the investigation of the ambush slaying of five people and an unborn child at a backyard cookout in Wilkinsburg, but authorities refused to say whether any progress had been made.


At a short press briefing Friday afternoon, Allegheny County police Lt. Andrew Schurman would say only that, “At this point the investigation is very active and ongoing.”

(more at link above)

~jmo~

This : "Authorities on Friday also declined to release updates on the conditions of Mr. Powell and John Ellis, who remain at UPMC Mercy"--struck me as they want to keep those involved in the slaughter in the dark about if they might be "talking" in the hospital. We know one cant but, what about the others? Keep the bad guys on edge jmo........... It they have an edge that is .....

 

[CARIIS]

In both peices this : “However, such a theory would do little to explain the indiscriminate shooting and killing of the other victims,” said Mike Manko, a spokesman for District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala Jr--struck me as unique.

I was thinking if we are talking revenge, and now we have a possible custudy angle, revenge by hurting the "family" makes sense no?

Most families I think harbor intese feelings in custudy battles, so it kind makes sense that some family memebers would be "vocal"as to where they stand on ths issue.

IMO the emerging custudy dispute explains the entire family masscre more IMO. Does that make any sense??

 

[CARIIS]

Wilkinsburg gunmen's possible target fights for life

Lots of information in this article, including a history of LaMont Powell's contacts with LE.

~jmo~

Great find Shana ! Ty

55 miles apart

https://www.google.com/webhp?source...q=Homer+City+is+how+far+away+from+Wilkinsburg

 

[mom2four717]

Not only did the gunmen arrive with out much notice, but to have the massacre go as they anticipated tells me they were familiar with the back yard.
Part of the planning and projecting where the crowd would go and where the gunmen would be placed must have included a prior visit to get the lay of the land.

 

[Mountaingazer]

Not only did the gunmen arrive with out much notice, but to have the massacre go as they anticipated tells me they were familiar with the back yard.
Part of the planning and projecting where the crowd would go and where the gunmen would be placed must have included a prior visit to get the lay of the land.

I have a feeling these guys purposefully befriend Brittany and she was their "in", though I don't think she had any indication of their plans, just thought they were friends.

They, or at least one of them, had probably been to the house before to hang out. I also think she was purposefully killed so she could not give any information about the attackers. I hope they are scouring her phone and computer records.