A 16-year-old from Wilmerding has been arrested and charged with the deaths of two other teenagers following a shooting incident in Pitcairn, Allegheny County. Jamon Brookins faces two counts of criminal homicide and a felony robbery count after the June incident that led to the deaths of 16-year-olds Isiah McCarthy of Pitcairn and Tyrant Sutton of Clairton.
The Allegheny County Police Department confirmed the details of the charges against Brookins. According to WPXI, the situation escalated from a planned transaction between an unidentified minor who was supposed to purchase firearms from McCarthy to a struggle that ended tragically. The police, relying on witness testimony and surveillance footage, stated that the shooting occurred near Wall Avenue and Eleanor Street back in June.
In the criminal complaint, as reported by TribLIVE, Brookins is said to have brought his own gun to the meeting "to make sure that no one got robbed." During the altercation, Brookins claimed, "the gun discharged," and a struggle with McCarthy ensued over the weapon, resulting in the fatal shootings.
Further unraveling the events of that June day, police reports divulged that Sutton, upon hearing the initial gunfire, confronted Brookins and fired a handgun once. The encounter quickly escalated, leading to Brookins seizing Sutton's dropped gun before firing multiple times at both Sutton and McCarthy. After admitting to discarding Sutton's handgun post-shooting, Brookins assisted law enforcement in locating the weapon in East Pittsburgh.
After the arrest, law enforcement officials recovered several pieces of evidence from the scene of the crime, including four bullet casings, two 9mm semi-automatic pistols, one of which was jammed and another loaded with 22 rounds. Brookins, who was apprehended without incident, is currently being held at the Allegheny County Jail. The court, considering the gravity of the accusations, has denied bail for Brookins, deeming him a threat to the community. He is expected to appear for a preliminary hearing on November 7.
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