Police believe dead suspect lured man

officers spoke with the homeowner, identified in a criminal complaint as Lakesha Ford, 42, who said there were four young men in the residence.

Police said witnesses reported that they had seen two black males running from the scene where Mr. Makhanda- Lopez was shot, toward the residence on Frankstown Road.

When police asked Ms. Ford about the young men, she ordered Myzle Ford, 15, another teen and a man out of the home.

The fourth person, Mr. Dickinson, remained in the house, where police found him hiding in the basement, investigators said.

“The subject then fired a weapon at the officer before charging at the officer,” Inspector Schurman said in a news release. “The officer returned fire, striking the male at least twice. The male was pronounced dead at the scene.”

Mr. Dickinson may have planned the assault against Mr. Makhanda- Lopez, police said.

Mr. Dickinson previously faced charges of burglary and simple assault in June, and then charges of robbery in July, according to online court records.

Allegheny County police Superintendent Coleman McDonough said authorities believe Mr. Makhanda- Lopez was “lured” to the scene as part of a robbery conspiracy. Myzle Ford told police that Mr. Dickinson, a friend who had been staying at his home on Frankstown Road for a couple of days, planned to rob someone who would sell him marijuana, police reported.

Myzle said Mr. Dickinson gave him a handgun and also used his cellphone to message Mr. MakhandaLopez to lure him to the Sharon Court parking lot.

Myzle also told police that Mr. Dickinson shot Mr. Makhanda- Lopez at close range as he sat in his car. He and Mr. Dickinson then ran to the home on Frankstown Road, investigators said.

Police said they recovered two handguns from the basement of the Ford home.

Penn Hills Police Chief Howard Burton said the identity of the Penn Hills officer who shot Mr. Dickinson might be released after county police complete their investigations.

“The county hasn’t said they are charging him with anything, so we are waiting to see what’s going to happen,” Chief Burton said. “The officer hasn’t been questioned yet.”

Allegheny County police charged Myzle as an adult with robbery, conspiracy, homicide and weapons violations in Mr. MakhandaLopez’s death. He is being held in the Allegheny County Jail pending a preliminary hearing next week.