Nearly five years after 15-year-old Central Catholic student Steven Eason was gunned down at the Haunted Hills Hayride in North Versailles, his mother says the silence around his case feels like a second loss. The shooting, which also wounded one of his classmates, is still unsolved. There have been no arrests, no publicly named suspect.
How the shooting unfolded
On Sept. 11, 2021, Eason was shot while trying to break up a fight at the Haunted Hills Hayride. Stray bullets hit a 15-year-old from Penn Hills as well. Police have said the confrontation may have started with an argument at a gas station earlier that day and then spilled over to the hayride that night. Detectives estimate between 50 and 100 people were nearby when the shots were fired and have urged anyone who was there and has photos or video to come forward, according to WTAE.
Police: witnesses hold the key
Allegheny County detectives say they still have not publicly identified a suspect and do not yet have the corroborating evidence needed to file charges. “We’ve had cooperation from some folks who were there, but it’s been limited,” Assistant Superintendent Vic Joseph told reporters. Investigators are again appealing to anyone who attended the event, especially those who were teenagers at the time, to share what they saw or heard, according to CBS News Pittsburgh.
A family's plea
Eason’s mother, Shantel Pizaro, says time has not dulled the need for answers. “It seems like everyone forgot,” she said as she renewed her call for information. “We are almost five years later with no justice for Steven.” She believes some people who were there that night may now be older, feel safer, and be ready to finally tell the full story. Her remarks, and the latest police push for tips, were reported by CBS News Pittsburgh.
Legal action and changes at the hayride
In September 2022, attorneys for Eason’s family filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against Haunted Hills Hayride, arguing the attraction failed to provide adequate security, according to reporting by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. The hayride briefly shut down after the shooting and later reopened with stricter searches and contracted security. The attraction told local reporters it believed the tougher measures would help protect guests, per WTAE. Even so, the lawsuit and ongoing memorial events have largely been what keep Eason’s case in the public eye while detectives continue to say they need a corroborating witness to move the investigation forward.
How you can help
Allegheny County police are asking anyone with information, photos, or video from that night to contact the department’s tip line at 1-833-ALL-TIPS (1-833-255-8477). Callers can remain anonymous. Investigators say details about the earlier gas-station confrontation, descriptions of clothing or vehicles, or any footage showing someone running toward the parking lot could all help break the case open, according to WPXI. Detectives emphasize that even small pieces of information can matter when they are trying to build the corroboration prosecutors need.
Legal implications
The family’s wrongful-death suit is a civil case, separate from any criminal charges that might be filed in connection with the shooting. As the Pennsylvania General Assembly notes, murder is one of the state offenses with no statute of limitations. That means, in theory, criminal charges could be brought at any time if detectives are able to develop usable evidence. Until then, Eason’s family says it will keep pressing for both answers in the criminal investigation and accountability from the hayride.
