Allegheny County detectives are renewing their plea for help in the year-old killing of 21-year-old Daniel Smith, whose body was found inside the McKeesport and Versailles Cemetery last February. Smith was discovered unresponsive near the Pirl Street entrance on Feb. 17 and was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators believe he was shot the night before, between about 8:30 and 9:30 p.m., and they are again asking anyone with information to call the county tip line at 1-833-ALL-TIPS, where callers can remain anonymous.
Detectives Renew Appeal
In a Facebook post yesterday, Allegheny County police said detectives are still tracking down leads and working to identify potential suspects, as reported by WTAE. The department repeated the tip-line information and urged the public to share anything that might place a vehicle or a person near the cemetery around the time investigators believe the shooting occurred. To date, authorities have not publicly identified any suspects or announced any arrests.
What Investigators Say About The Discovery
The Allegheny County Medical Examiner later identified the victim as 21-year-old Daniel Smith of Duquesne, and officials say passersby found his body just before 11 a.m. at the Pirl Street entrance to the cemetery, according to WPXI. County detectives said Smith had a gunshot wound to the head and that preliminary information suggests he was shot somewhere else before his body was placed in the cemetery.
Local Reaction And Context
Neighbors told reporters they were rattled by the discovery and concerned about other unsolved deaths near the cemetery, a reaction detailed by CBS Pittsburgh. Hoodline covered the initial discovery last February in Man Found Shot to Death, noting that investigators were still in the early stages of the case and that there is no video surveillance inside the cemetery itself.
How To Contact Detectives
Anyone with information is asked to call the County Police Tip Line at 1-833-ALL-TIPS or submit a tip online, as noted on the Allegheny County Police unsolved homicides page at Allegheny County Police. Detectives say even small details, such as a vehicle description, a license plate number, or someone spotted near the Pirl Street area on the evening of Feb. 16, could help move the investigation forward.
