A Brashear High School student fatally shot in an abandoned house in Mount Oliver on his 16th birthday last year had been trying to rob a man when he was killed, according to police.

About 30 friends and relatives of LaRon Benton last night held a vigil at the site of the shooting to mark the one-year anniversary of his death.

"I'll be coping for the rest of my life," said LaTonya Edwards, LaRon's mother.

Homicide investigators have determined that Ralph Meadows, 31, was defending himself when he fired a .380-caliber handgun at LaRon during a robbery attempt. He has not been charged with any crime.

Allegheny County police have arrested two juveniles, including LaRon's cousin, in connection with the shooting. Dontae Benton, 16, and Terrin Mangham, 17, are accused of attacking Mr. Meadows inside the house in the 500 block of Brownsville Road after LaRon lured him there for a drug deal.

Asked last night about the arrests, Ms. Edwards seemed surprised.

"No one's followed up with me," she said. "I don't know anything about this."

According to the criminal complaint for Dontae, Mr. Meadows told police that LaRon called him to buy marijuana. When Mr. Meadows came to the house with the drugs, a black male pointed a shotgun at him and said, "You know what this is," Mr. Meadows told police.

Mr. Meadows said he grabbed the shotgun's barrel and pushed it toward the floor. He struggled with both the gunman and LaRon. Someone struck him in the head with the shotgun.

Mr. Meadows broke away and tried to go out the front door, but it was locked.

"Take everything from him," one of the attackers said.

A third person, armed with a handgun, also joined the fray. Mr. Meadows told police he managed to grab the gun, but LaRon continued to struggle with him. Mr. Meadows fell to the ground. When he hit the floor, the gun fired.

The shot struck LaRon. He died from a gunshot wound to the chest.

According to the complaint, a witness, Daniel Wallace, had been in the house at the time of the shooting. In February, he told police that Terrin and Dontae had joined LaRon in fighting with Mr. Meadows.

Investigators used LaRon's cell phone records to locate Mr. Meadows. They interviewed him June 4.

Terrin and Dontae were arrested the same month. In July, they were held for trial on charges of aggravated assault, robbery and criminal conspiracy. They have been charged as adults.

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