A 16-year-old from Stowe Township walked out of an Allegheny County courtroom a free man on Thursday, after a jury acquitted Cy-Miar Amari Woods in the shooting death of 26-year-old Michael Dean. Jurors found Woods not guilty of criminal homicide and a firearms charge, and the remaining counts against him were dismissed, leaving co-defendants and investigators to figure out what comes next in a case that is still very much alive.
Jury Verdict And Charges Woods Faced
Court records show Woods had been indicted in 2024 on a slate of charges that included criminal attempted burglary, conspiracy, and tampering with evidence, according to WPXI. The jury ultimately cleared him of criminal homicide and the gun-possession count, and the rest of the charges were tossed.
Police Say Surveillance Shows Forced Entry
Allegheny County police said first responders found Dean shot inside his home on Nov. 22, 2023, in the 800 block of Benwood Avenue. Detectives later recovered security-camera footage that appears to show three people trying to force their way into the house, with one of them firing a single round through the front door, per WTAE. Investigators said that the video, along with witness interviews, helped them identify a second suspect and make arrests in the case.
Co-defendant’s Case Still Moving Forward
Another man, Arrmon Hagans, remains charged in connection with Dean’s killing, and his case is still pending, according to CBS Pittsburgh. Authorities have said they are also looking for a possible third person who was seen on the surveillance footage.
Unanswered Questions After Acquittal
Woods’ acquittal closes the book on his part of the prosecution but leaves plenty unresolved for detectives and for Dean’s family. Court filings and local reporting indicate prosecutors are continuing to push ahead against the remaining defendants. Allegheny County police have asked anyone with information about the case to call the tip line at 1-833-ALL-TIPS, per WPXI.
