Three men were held for trial this morning in the fatal shooting of a Beltzhoover man during a robbery in October.

City police charged Joseph Gainer, 17, of Mount Washington; Aaron Phillips, 18, of Mount Oliver; and Andrew James Samuels, 18, of Beltzhoover, in the death of Albert "A.J." Bock, 30 on Oct. 17.

A friend of Mr. Bock's, Mike Plish, testified at a preliminary hearing before Wilkinsburg District Judge Kim Hoots in city court that he and two other friends returned to Mr. Bock's house after being at a bar. They were on the porch shortly after 3 a.m. when the three suspects approached the house, Mr. Plish said. One of them said, "Did anybody find any weed?" according to Mr. Plish. The suspects then entered the gate and approached the house, ordering the four people on the porch to "Throw it off," before pistol whipping two of the men while going through the victims' pockets.

Aaron Phillips and Andrew Samuels left the porch and were at the gate, Mr. Plish said, but Joseph Gainer remained and ordered Mr. Bock to let him into the house. When Mr. Bock opened the door, a dog ran out and as he started to go after it, Joseph Gainer yelled "I'm a murderer!" and shot him once in the neck, Mr. Plish said. Mr. Bock was pronounced dead at 3:21 a.m.

The three teenagers will held on charges of homicide, conspiracy to commit robbery, robbery and illegal possession of firearms.

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