McKees Rocks man ordered to stand trial in Stowe killing

Robert Ray was shot in late July

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

A McKees Rocks man was ordered Friday to stand trial on charges that he killed a man in Stowe last month.

Charles Dixson, 27, faces charges of homicide and a gun violation in the July 28 shooting of 22-year-old Robert Ray.

District Judge Mary Murray ordered Mr. Dixson to stand trial following a preliminary hearing during which she heard testimony from officers, viewed clips of surveillance footage and heard statements from a man who saw the victim and defendant moments before the killing.

Stowe Officer James Duss testified that he conducted an unrelated traffic stop that evening and heard Mr. Ray and Mr. Dixson having some sort of argument. Mr. Dixson, the officer said, called Mr. Ray “a rat.”

Later that evening, police were called to a home on Russellwood Avenue and found Mr. Ray, who had been struck by a bullet.

Police presented surveillance footage that they said showed Mr. Dixson in the area before the shooting and in possession of a gun. Defense attorney Kevin Abramovitz said he did not see a gun in the footage and questioned officers about where they thought they saw one.

James Beasock, who was sitting on a porch near the shooting, said he saw Mr. Ray and Mr. Dixson yelling shortly before the shooting. He said he could not tell what they were arguing about.

At one point, he said, Mr. Dixson confronted Mr. Ray, who jumped off his porch and ran between two homes. Mr. Beasock said he saw Mr. Dixson head toward the same area, lost sight of him and then heard gunfire.