After less than three hours in the jury room, an Allegheny County panel on Monday acquitted 22-year-old Martel Hedge Jr. of every charge tied to a daytime shooting on Smithfield Street last year that left a teenager critically wounded.
Hedge admitted firing a single shot during the confrontation but maintained he pulled the trigger only because he was being jumped. His attorney argued throughout the trial that he acted in self-defense, and the jury ultimately agreed.
Jury verdict
As reported by TribLIVE, the jury returned not-guilty verdicts on all counts Monday following a brief deliberation. Defense attorney Amber Owens told the outlet that Hedge had acted in self-defense, a narrative that jurors accepted when they cleared him.
Shooting and charges
According to the City of Pittsburgh, the shooting happened on Feb. 19, 2025, on the 400 block of Smithfield Street after an officer on patrol heard a gunshot. The officer detained a man who had placed a gun on the ground at the scene.
Local television coverage at the time reported that the teenage victim had been shot in the abdomen and taken to the hospital in critical but stable condition, per WPXI. Police later charged Hedge with one count of aggravated assault and four counts of recklessly endangering another person.
Trial details
During the trial, prosecutors leaned on witness accounts and the criminal complaint to argue their case. The defense focused on Hedge’s claim that he was being jumped when he fired a single round and emphasized that he surrendered to police immediately afterward, according to TribLIVE.
TribLIVE also reported that Hedge told officers he had a permit to carry and that he was released on an unsecured bond about a week after being charged.
Downtown reaction and next steps
People who were nearby said the gunfire rattled downtown workers and residents and reignited calls for more visible patrols in the central business district, as covered by WTAE. Earlier reporting detailed the police response at the Smithfield Street scene.
The acquittal closes the criminal case against Hedge, but questions about safety downtown and how to head off sudden public confrontations remain for residents, businesses, and city officials. We will update the story if prosecutors or the police release further comment or filings.
