A 15-year-old boy was stalked through Ambridge before he was shot and killed “execution style” Sunday evening, police said.
Asaun Moreland, who was originally identified as 14, was found dead in the 1100 block of Church Street about 7 p.m. after he was followed through the borough by two people, according to Beaver County District Attorney David Lozier.
One man, 18-year-old Nasean Malik Hunt, was arrested Sunday. He is facing homicide charges. Police are searching for a second suspect who fled the scene.
The shooting came a day after 15-year-old Dahvea Sparrow was shot and killed at a house party in Aliquippa. Police have not made any arrests in that case. A $10,000 reward was posted by police and the Aliquippa School District for anyone with information leading to the conviction of those involved in the shooting.
It was not immediately clear if the two shootings are related.
“We have young male juveniles being killed by young male juveniles,” Mr. Lozier said Tuesday during a news conference at the Ambridge Police Department. “We have been talking for months about how we have a juvenile crime crisis. This is not just Beaver County; this is all of Southwestern Pennsylvania.”
Witnesses who were in Ambridge on Sunday described Asaun being stalked through the borough. According to Mr. Lozier, Asaun knew he was being followed by two men wearing dark hoodies, face masks and dark pants. He attempted to evade them.
But individuals eventually caught up with him.
Witnesses told police they saw Asaun run into the road when they heard several gunshots, according to a criminal complaint filed in the case. Asaun was seen staggering and falling to the ground while the men then fled behind Laughlin Memorial Library.
Two other witnesses followed the men, tracking them to an apartment building at 601 Olive Lane.
According to Mr. Lozier, the suspects went behind the building where they took off their clothes and shoes. Hunt went into the building. The other person did not have key access so he fled.
Police on scene called the SWAT team who set up a perimeter around the building. A standoff occurred for several hours before Hunt was arrested in the building. He was held on other charges while an investigation was ongoing.
Following his arrest police obtained a search warrant for the apartment building. They found a Glock 17 9mm in a common area of the building. They also found wet black clothing and a Glock extended magazine outside the building.
Hunt, who has addresses and family in Ambridge and Aliquippa, was charged Tuesday with criminal homicide, conspiracy to commit criminal homicide, evading arrest, tampering with evidence and guns charges. He is being held at Beaver County Jail without bail.
It was not clear why Asaun was targeted.
Ambridge Police Chief John DeLuca during Tuesday’s news conference praised the actions of witnesses who helped provide information about the case.
“It was very, very important of what took place to get us where we are in this investigation,” Mr. DeLuca said. “The citizens that risked their own safety tracking these guys as they ran throughout our community. This wasn’t just within one block. These citizens went above and beyond to track these people eight, 10 blocks.”
Aliquippa Mayor Dwan Walker said on The Big K Morning Show on Tuesday that the goal now is to bring justice to the families of both boys who were killed. Mr. Walker, who knew Dahvea and has spoken with Asaun’s father, is calling on the community to come forward with any information.
“I don’t know about losing a child but I know what pain feels like, what sorrow feels like and that’s what you see in Aliquippa right now is a cloud of sorrow, a cloud of fear,” Mr. Walker said. “In this community we don’t do that. We want to right the ship, we want to make things right but people got to come forward.”
As police search for the second suspect and for those involved in the Aliquippa shooting, Mr. Lozier said citizens need to remain vigilant.
“Everyone needs to know where their children are and keep an eye out for themselves,” Mr. Lozier said. “We can’t solve this juvenile problem. It’s going to be families, it’s going to be the community. We need their information, we need their help. We need parents to be parents and schools to be schools to help us know where our children are and what they’re doing.”
First Published: July 11, 2023, 3:30 p.m.
Updated: July 12, 2023, 12:50 a.m.
