Westmoreland County prosecutors have filed a fresh round of charges against a man already sitting in jail, tying him to an October 2023 front‑porch shooting that left a New Kensington resident dead. The indictment identifies 31‑year‑old Troy Vickers Jr. as the victim and accuses Rajon Wilson of fatally shooting him on a porch along Kenneth Avenue. The new case brings first‑degree murder, firearms offenses, and terroristic‑threat counts.
Charges announced by DA
According to CBS Pittsburgh, Westmoreland County District Attorney Nicole Ziccarelli announced criminal homicide, first‑degree murder, firearms violations, and terroristic‑threat charges against Wilson. Prosecutors say he was already being held at the Westmoreland County Prison on unrelated charges when the new counts were filed, following a months‑long investigation that pulled together surveillance video and witness statements. The DA's office says the case will now head into preliminary court proceedings.
What happened in October 2023
On Oct. 19, 2023, officers were called to the 1000 block of Kenneth Avenue, where they found Vickers unresponsive on a front porch. He was taken to a Pittsburgh‑area hospital, placed on life support, and later died. Local coverage from WPXI noted that investigators initially turned to the public, asking for help identifying people seen on surveillance near the scene. Neighbors told reporters the shooting shook the small city, and detectives canvassed the area for witnesses in the days that followed.
Investigators point to surveillance footage
Prosecutors say surveillance video shows Wilson driving through New Kensington and stopping on streets that feed into Kenneth Avenue shortly before the shooting. Audio captured on the footage picked up two gunshots at about 10:49 p.m., and witnesses described a simmering tension after an earlier bar argument between the two men, according to the DA’s office. Those details are among the evidence cited in support of the new charges, CBS Pittsburgh reported.
Custody and next steps
Wilson remains in county custody on the unrelated case, and the newly filed counts will now move through the Westmoreland County court system. Arraignment and preliminary hearing dates had not yet been released at the time of the announcement. The District Attorney’s Office is leading the prosecution and has said investigators will keep pursuing additional evidence as the case unfolds. For more on the prosecuting agency, see the Westmoreland County District Attorney.
Legal context
First‑degree murder is the most serious homicide charge under Pennsylvania law and can carry the harshest penalties if proven. As in every criminal case, Wilson is presumed innocent unless and until he is convicted. Prosecutors will first need to present evidence at a preliminary hearing and, if the case advances, at trial, where a judge or jury will ultimately decide guilt or innocence.
