An argument over vomit in a West Mifflin trailer home between mother and son, both armed, ended in death Saturday night for another man who tried to intervene and ended up shot in the chest.

Dante King, 21, told police that he shot Anthony Lamarr Orosco, 20, of Pine Knot, Ky., while the two were struggling over Mr. King's gun, according to Allegheny County police.

Detectives said Mr. King had some friends over for a party at the trailer he shares with his mother, Tara Evans, on Palmer Lane. He and the friends were drinking and Ms. Evans confronted her son because one of the friends had thrown up in the bathroom.

Mr. King told police he felt his mother was “disrespecting him” after he told her he would clean up the vomit, according to an affidavit.

The two argued. She pulled a pistol on him, he said, and he punched her.

Mr. King said he walked away and called his brother to pick him up. He then retrieved a gun belonging to his sister, but when he walked into the hallway with it around 10:20 p.m., Mr. Orosco stepped in to try to calm the situation.

Mr. King said Mr. Orosco asked him for the gun, but he refused to give it up. Mr. Orosco then grabbed the weapon and tried to take it from him, according to his statement.

They wrestled over the gun.

“King stated that they continued to tussle for the gun and at some point, King's finger was on the trigger while Anthony had a grip on the barrel,” police said in the affidavit. “King stated that the gun went off and he shot Anthony.”

Mr. King said he dropped the gun in shock and tried to apply pressure to Mr. Orosco’s wound.

He stayed until police arrived, he said, and told detectives he needed to “own up” to what he did.

When West Mifflin officers first arrived and took Mr. King into custody, they said Ms. Evans was screaming at him that he had killed Mr. Orosco.

“I’m sorry,” Mr. King said.

Mr. Orosco was taken by ambulance to UPMC McKeesport hospital, where he was pronounced dead shortly after 11 p.m.

Mr. King is charged with criminal homicide and is being held at the Allegheny County Jail. A a preliminary hearing has been scheduled for Feb. 19.

Torsten Ove: tove@post-gazette.com

First Published: February 9, 2020, 4:03 p.m.
Updated: February 9, 2020, 4:33 p.m.