Teenager shot to death near center

A 17-year-old-youth was shot to death in Lincoln-Lemington Friday afternoon, prompting an hours-long standoff at a home down the block as police searched for the killer.

Taymer Donald was killed in the 6500 block of Dean Street, across the street from the Paulson Community Center.

He was shot about 3 p.m. and died about a half-hour later at UPMC Presbyterian, police spokeswoman Sonya Toler said.

A neighbor said she heard five shots. After the shooting, police officers canvassed the neighborhood, at one point running through yards and alleys as they searched for a suspect.

Just after 5 p.m., a young man dashed out from between bushes near the corner of Paulson Avenue and Apple Street in the pouring rain. Officers gave chase, shouting for him to stop.

Officers then surrounded a home

in the 6400 block of Apple Street. About 5:30 p.m., an officer used a megaphone and ordered anyone inside to comeout.

A woman, a child and a third person all surrendered before 6 p.m. SWAT responded to the scene and the standoff lasted for several hours before four people were taken into custody about11:30 p.m.

Police said they found drugs inside the house and were still investigating. No one had been charged with homicide in Taymer Donald’sdeath.

Neighbors said the teen livedin the area.

Jon Hairston, director of the Paulson Community Center, said he was a regular at the center and would often cometo lift weights.

“I liked him,” he said. “He always showed me respect. He was never a problem in the center.”

He said he saw Taymer walking down Paulson Avenue about 90 minutes before the shooting. Mr. Hairston waved at Taymer, and he waved back. Mr. Hairston thought about calling him over, because he hadn’t seen the teenager in a while, but didn’t.

The boy looked like he was headed somewhere, and Mr. Hairston didn’t want to slow himdown.

But two hours later, standing yards away from the scene of the shooting, he wondered whether he could have prevented it. “I could have said something to him,” he said, “and maybe changed thecourse of things.”