Duquesne teen held for trial in two shootings, one fatal
A 16-year-old from Duquesne was held for court Friday in two cases that involved shootings on consecutive days, one fatal and the other life-threatening.
Thomas McKissick is being held without bail in the Allegheny County Jail on charges connected to the Oct. 11 shooting death of 15year-old Lezra Rice of North Braddock, as well as on charges connected to the attempted homicide and aggravated assault of another youth, Devante Eddins, who was a schoolmate of the accused.
No motive was presented during a preliminary hearing Friday morning before District Judge Thomas Caulfield at City Court, Downtown.
Neither Allegheny County assistant district attorney Alex Cashman nor defense attorney Owen Seaman had any comment following the brief hearing.
Lezra’s shooting happened on William Street between an alley and a field known locally as “the hollow,” a former scrapyard that serves as a cut-through to the Duquesne Youth Athletic Association football field. Authorities said he was shot multiple times shortly after 5 p.m. and pronounced dead about 90 minutes later at a hospital from a head wound. Eddins, whose age and home address were not given, testified he was meeting with McKissick at a ballfield in Duquesne on Oct. 10 to obtain marijuana when the accused pulled out a gun. Eddins said he knocked the gun from McKissick’s hand as McKissick chased him. Eddins was shot in the back of his neck. He was hospitalized for more than a week. County homicide Detective Darren Gerlach testified that during an Oct. 18 walkthrough of the shooting scene with Eddins after he was released from the hospital, five spent shell casings were found at the park. Evidence was submitted showing the casings matched casings recovered from the scene of the Oct. 11 fatal shooting.
Another county homicide detective, James Grill, testified he recovered a cell phone from Lezra’s backpack following his death a couple of blocks away from the Oct. 10 shooting.
Both locations are near McKissick’s home. Detective Grill said the cell phone showed Facebook messaging between Lezra and the defendant indicating that a deal for marijuanawas being made.
McKissick was charged Oct. 12 with attempted homicide, aggravated assault and two gun offenses in connection with the shooting of Eddins. Eight days later authorities charged him with homicide and gun possession by a minorin Lezra’s death.