Guilty plea accepted in killing of woman

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

A McKeesport man pleaded guilty Tuesday to killing a woman in Knoxville last year.

As part of a plea deal worked out with the Allegheny County district attorney’s office, Russell David Spence, 20, was sentenced to 15 to 30 years in state prison for shooting Shanique Saunders on Nov. 30, 2016.

Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge David R. Cashman presided over the proceeding, during which Spence pleaded guilty to third-degree murder and a gun violation.

The shooting occurred as Spence and Saunders, 23, of Homestead argued in a jitney. The driver told police he was giving them a ride when they got into a “heated argument,” according to a police affidavit. The driver told police Spence accused Saunders of “being a snitch” and “stealing a chain and money from him.”

As they drove on McKinley Street toward Brownsville Road about 1:45 p.m., the affidavit said, Spence shot Saunders through the back of the front passenger seat then pushed her out of the car.

Saunders’ mother, Lashon Saunders, asked Judge Cashman to give Spence the maximum sentence.

“You killed my soul; you killed my life,” she said to Spence, who stood nearby, shackled and wearing a gray suit.

“You destroyed my life, and I hope you rot in hell,” Ms. Saunders said.

Spence apologized to the Saunders family and did not speak further.