The Wilkinsburg Mass Shooting – Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Interactive

Laura Schneiderman
lschneiderman@post-gazette.com

Jan. 28, 2020

The Crime

On the warm, fair night of Wednesday March 9, 2016, two gunmen shot to death five people at a backyard cookout at 1304 Franklin Ave., Wilkinsburg. One of the victims was eight months pregnant. Another was paralyzed from the waist down and died in 2020 of complications. Another two people were wounded.

One shooter fired from an alley with a handgun, driving people toward the back door of the house, police said. The other shooter fired from the side with an assault-style rifle. A total of 48 shots were fired, police said.

The Latest

Dec. 22, 2020: Man acquitted in Wilkinsburg massacre pleads guilty to federal gun charges
Feb. 27, 2020: Wilkinsburg Witness No. 3 again at issue in separate shooting case
Feb. 26, 2020: Wilkinsburg public safety forum attracts large crowd
Feb. 25, 2020: Less than 2 weeks after acquittal, Cheron Shelton indicted on federal gun charge
Feb. 21, 2020: Key evidence in Wilkinsburg mass shooting case never made it to jurors
Feb. 18, 2020: Attorney for Wilkinsburg jailhouse witness: No prosecutorial misconduct
Feb. 17, 2020: County police superintendent responds to criticism in Wilkinsburg mass shooting case
Feb. 14, 2020: Jury finds Cheron Shelton not guilty of Wilkinsburg mass slaying
Feb. 13, 2020: Defense again seeks mistrial based on witness information
Feb. 12, 2020: Witness said investigators paid him, used him as illegal informant
Feb. 12, 2020: Jury seeks details about witness testimony
Feb. 12, 2020: Judge unseals motion alleging prosecutorial misconduct
Feb. 11, 2020: Jury asks two questions before ending full day of deliberations
Feb. 11, 2020: Here is some of the evidence that jurors saw and heard
Feb. 10, 2020: Both sides make closing arguments
Feb. 7, 2020: Judge denies defense request for mistrial over witness payments; seals motion
Feb. 6, 2020: A look at Day 4 witnesses in the trial
Feb. 6, 2020: Girlfriend testifies Shelton didn’t return until 3 a.m. the night of the shooting
Feb. 5, 2020: A look at Day 3 witnesses in the trial
Feb. 5, 2020: Wilkinsburg suspect’s letters from jail read to jurors
Feb. 4, 2020: A look at Day 2 witnesses in the trial
Feb. 4, 2020: Accused shooter, alleged target, face each other in courtroom
Feb. 3, 2020: A look at the witnesses in the trial
Feb. 3, 2020: Trial begins in Wilkinsburg mass slaying
Feb. 3, 2020: Judge drops case against Wilkinsburg co-defendant Robert Thomas

Victims

Killed

Jerry Michael Shelton, 35, brother of wounded victim Lamont Powell

Brittany Powell, 27, sister of Lamont Powell

Chanetta Powell, 25, sister of Lamont Powell; was 8 months pregnant

Tina Shelton, 37, cousin of Lamont Powell and the victims above

Shada Mahone, 26, cousin of Lamont Powell and the victims above

John Ellis, paralyzed from the waist down; died in 2020 from complications.

Wounded

Lamont Powell, initially in critical condition

Another victim was treated and released.

Suspects

Cheron Shelton (no relation to the victims)

Robert Thomas

Alleged Motive

Police suspect that Cheron Shelton sought vengeance for the 2013 shooting death of his best friend, Calvin Doswell, in Lincoln-Lemington. Lamont Powell was a suspect in that homicide, but was not charged. The case is unsolved.