Wilkinsburg man pleads guilty to manslaughter in 2014 shooting
A Wilkinsburg man on Wednesday pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter in a 2014 shooting that killed his co-conspirator in a robbery.
Appearing before Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge Edward J. Borkowski, Demetres
Beck, 26, also pleaded guilty to two counts of robbery in connection to the killing of Kierre Simmons during a scuffle while trying to rob two other men in North Braddock on Dec. 29, 2014.
Under Pennsylvania law, a person is guilty of manslaughter when their illegal behavior
results in the death of another person.
Charges also were withdrawn against Beck in connection to a 2015 shooting at a vigil in Homewood that wounded an adult and two children, district attorney spokesman Mike Manko said. Beck was the last defendant still facing charges among several who were originally charged.
Beck was allegedly involved in the shooting but not among the men who fired into the crowd. Charges against five other defendants were withdrawn last year after a witness was killed and prosecutors had trouble getting other witnesses to cooperate, according to court records.
Two men have pleaded guilty in the case: Kendre Simpson, who was convicted of firearms charges, and Ashton Lewis, who admitted to recklessly endangering another person and conspiracy.
According to a police affidavit from the 2014 robbery incident, Beck and Simmons arrived at the North Braddock residence of Justin Gomez, 24, after a phone call “regarding the sale of marijuana.” They entered a bedroom along with an unnamed witness who was also in the home.
The witness showed Beck a firearm and the two began discussing a price for another gun, the affidavit reads. Then, Beck pointed a handgun at the witness and said, “Throw it off.”
Beck and Simmons began wrestling with the pair as all four drew firearms. Gomez and the witness fired shots, striking Simmons in the shoulder and neck as he and Beck fled the apartment.
Simmons was taken to UPMC Mercy hospital for the gunshot wounds and died later that evening.
Homicide charges against Gomez were withdrawn, and he was ultimately convicted of a felony drug charge in the case. Due to developments in the case prior to a trial for Gomez and the witness, prosecutors were unable to sustain a burden of proof, according to Mr. Manko.
For the manslaughter charge, Beck will face 2½ to five years in prison followed by three years of probation.
He also pleaded guilty on gun charges in connection to another case, but no additional penalties from that plea were added on to the sentence.