Allegheny County police have detained and plan to charge a juvenile with a drive-by shooting in North Braddock that preceded the fatal police shooting of 17-year-old Antwon Rose II.
The youth, who county police believe was with Antwon when he was shot, was picked up on separate charges Monday night, county spokeswoman Amie Downs said. She declined to name him, but three people with knowledge of the situation confirmed he is 17-year-old Zaijuan Hester.
Allegheny County sheriff’s deputies picked the teenager up on a juvenile probation violation — he’d cut off his ankle bracelet — around 11:30 p.m. Monday on De Ruad Street in West Oakland, Chief Deputy Kevin Kraus said. Deputies turned him over to county detectives at the scene, he added.
County police plan to charge Zaijuan in connection with a drive-by shooting that happened around 8:20 p.m. June 19 in the 800 block of Kirkpatrick Avenue in North Braddock.
A 22-year-old man was shot in that incident and survived. Witnesses described the shooter’s vehicle to police, and officers began searching the area.
About 15 minutes later, East Pittsburgh police Officer Michael Rosfeld spotted a car that matched the description and had gunshot damage to the back windshield at Grandview Avenue and Howard Street, county police have said.
Officer Rosfeld pulled the car over and was in the process of detaining the driver when Antwon and another boy, believed to be Zaijuan, sprinted from the car. Officer Rosfeld fired three shots, killing Antwon as he ran away.
The driver was detained, questioned and later released. He told investigators he was acting as a jitney.
Police said they found two guns in the back of the car, and Antwon had an empty clip in his pocket. He was unarmed when he was shot.
Police believe Zaijuan escaped and authorities had been searching for him since. Chief Deputy Kraus said the sheriff’s office was asked to help in the search on Monday.
Ms. Downs said county officials will provide additional information once charges have been filed.
Shelly Bradbury: 412-263-1999, sbradbury@post-gazette.com or follow @ShellyBradbury on Twitter.
First Published: June 26, 2018, 4:32 p.m.
