Police: Deceased suspect in Penn Hills killing had history of robbery charges

The man who was shot dead by a Penn Hills police officer had prior charges of robbery — a crime that seemed to repeat itself Sunday night in the death of a Mount Oliver resident.

Police were gathering evidence after Joshua Antonio MakhandaLopez, 30, was found in a car Sunday night with a gunshot wound to the head. During that investigation, the Penn Hills officer fatally shot 20- year- old Onaje Dickinson, who was wanted for questioning in Mr. Makhanda- Lopez’s death.

Allegheny County police said both incidents occurred in the area of the Sharon Court apartment complex, at Frankstown Road and Graham Boulevard. Investigators said Mr. Dickinson was killed after he fired a shot at the Penn Hills officer in the basement of a home in the 9200 block of Frankstown.

According to county police Inspector Andrew Schurman,

working for, what we want for ourselves.”

A developer who spoke before him, Brandon Mendoza, of NAIOP Commercial Real Estate Development Association, said the industry is seeking “better ways” than this measure to address affordable housing, including tax subsidies.

“We should be seeking to use carrots or incentive as opposed to stick and hurdles,” Mr. Mendoza said. “I would love to work with you guys to make it better and look at other strategies to increase affordable units.”

But Democratic state Rep. Sara Innamorato, who represents Lawrenceville, told council she supports the measure because her role is to be in “constant tension with private interests to protect and preserve the public good. This piece of legislation does just that.”

Randall Taylor, a former resident of the former Penn Plaza apartments in East Liberty, which became a rallying cry for affordable housing, said he supports the measure, but that mostly he attended to protest being removed from Monday night’s public hearing in council chambers that focused on Enright Parklet in his neighborhood. Mr. Taylor was removed by a Pittsburgh police officer when he refused to stop speaking after his one minute expired.

“People have a right to come here and speak their truth,” Mr. Taylor said.