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Charges dropped in fatal Homewood shooting

Charges dropped in fatal Homewood shooting

Homicide charges were dismissed yesterday against one of three teenagers charged with the fatal shooting of an off-duty postal worker in Homewood in October.

Charges were dismissed against Shaquon Jarrett, 18, after a coroner's inquest into the case yesterday was canceled for a third time.

Defense attorney Jack Conflenti asked for the dismissal because of the repeated postponements by prosecutors.

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Police said that Jarrett was one of four assailants involved in the attempted robbery and shooting death Oct. 11 of Richard Cetrone, 44.

Cetrone was shot as he walked a few blocks from his North Point Breeze home.

Jarrett, who was in jail on unrelated charges, had a previous address on East Hills Drive in Pittsburgh. It's the same street as another suspect, Nathaniel Smith, 19. Smith and Gerald Von Haynes, 18, of Wilkinsburg, have been ordered to stand trial in connection with Cetrone's slaying.

Assistant District Attorney Mark Tranquilli yesterday asked for a postponement in the case against Jarrett because a key witness could not attend yesterday or any of the previously scheduled hearings because of health reasons.

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The witness, whom Tranquilli did not identify, is ill and suffered a medical setback recently. Doctors advised against him participating in a court hearing.

Allegheny County Deputy Coroner Timothy G. Uhrich, who presides over the inquests, said both sides had agreed that the hearing could be held in the witness' hospital room, but that arrangement was no longer feasible.

Tranquilli said plans are under way to make a videotape of the witness' sworn testimony in case he would not be available for a subsequent hearing. In that event, Jarrett would be arrested and charged again, Uhrich said.

Yesterday, Jarrett was to be released into the custody of Blair County authorities.

First Published: December 10, 2004, 5:00 a.m.

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