Clairton man pleads guilty in 2017 killing

A former Clairton High School quarterback pleaded guilty Thursday to voluntary manslaughter and robbery in a 2017 shooting in Baldwin Borough.

Bryson Koontz, 19, of Clairton, who was 17 when he was charged in the killing of Nathan Assad, appeared before Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge Edward Borkowski, who will sentence him later. Koontz was the backup quarterback on a team that made it to the 2016 PIAA Class 1A title game.

Koontz and Nathan Lee were both involved in Assad’s death on Aug. 15, 2017.

Investigators said Lee shot the victim during a dispute over a half-ounce of marijuana and a gold chain.

Lee, 18, who was charged as a 16-year-old, pleaded guilty in November to J.third-degree murder. He was sentenced to 17½ to 35 years in prison.

Charles LoPresti, Koontz’s attorney at his 2017 preliminary hearing, had acknowledged that he drove the car the night of the shooting. But he said that Koontz had nothing to do with the slaying and tried to discourage Lee.

Allegheny County police said Assad, of Baldwin Township, was shot as he sat in the passenger side of a car.

A witness who was with the victim told police that Assad had agreed to sell Lee a half-ounce of marijuana for $140.

Lee went to a home in the 400 block of Lucy Drive to make the purchase.

However, police said instead of paying, Lee stole the drugs and gold chain.

Lee fled in a vehicle with at least one other person, and the witness told police he and Assad got in their own vehicle and followed.

At the intersection of McAnulty and Horning roads, the witness said, Lee leaned out the passenger side window and fired at least three shots.

Assad was struck in the face and died the next morning.