Beaver Falls man to stand trial in 2 Sheraden slayings

A Beaver Falls man accused of killing two teenagers in Sheraden in November will be tried in Allegheny County Common Pleas Court.

Charges of homicide, robbery, conspiracy and carrying a firearm without a license were bound over against Michael St. Clair, 24, following a preliminary hearing Friday.

Mr. St. Clair is accused of killing Diondre Dozier, 17, of Sheraden, and Martin Brown Jr., 18, of Crafton Heights, early Nov. 17 on Glenmawr Avenue in Sheraden. A .22-caliber handgun and two assault rifles were found at the scene.

Pittsburgh Detective George Satler said Mr. Dozier had a gun in his pants, but it had not been fired.

At the preliminary hearing, the detective testified that Mr. St. Clair was shot multiple times and someone drove him to Allegheny General Hospital.

When investigators interviewed him a few days later, he told them that he was with a person named Tijuan, and that they drove to Sheraden for a marijuana deal.

Mr. St. Clair, however, said two men came out between houses as soon as he exited the vehicle, and he was shot.

“We asked him if he was shooting,” Detective Satler testified. “He denied being a shooter.”

When asked if anyone with him was shooting, Mr. St. Clair replied, “It makes sense somebody was shooting because two people were dead.”

Assistant district attorney Michael Berquist then presented text messages allegedly sent by Mr. St. Clair, including one two hours before the shooting that included three emojis — a person running, an explosion and a handgun pointing at the person.

Defense attorney Steven Valsamidis argued to Magisterial District Judge Linda Zucco that the prosecution had failed to prove that his client was involved in the shooting.

“At this point, it’s speculation at best as to what Mr. St. Clair’s role in the homicide was.”

But Mr. Berquist responded, “Mr. St. Clair, whether or not he pulled the trigger ... it’s not important to the court. He’s liable for the acts of himself and a co-conspirator.”