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Man charged in shooting death of 20-year-old in Kennedy
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Police charged a Hazelwood man today in connection with the Monday night shooting death of a college student from Kennedy that investigators described as a botched drug robbery.
Jordan Coyner, 20, was shot once in the head about 8 p.m. inside the home he shared with his parents in the 5000 block of Julia Lane. His father was home at the time.
Charged with homicide and other crimes is 22-year-old Devele Reid, who police said was one of five men who came to the home to steal marijuana.
Four juveniles were found and released. County police will confer with the district attorney's office to determine whether they should be charged.
Two of the suspects remained in a maroon Monte Carlo while three others approached the house. One man went inside the home, where he argued with Mr. Coyner and shot him in the head, Allegheny County police Superintendent Charles Moffatt said.
The men made off with only a small baggie of marijuana, he said. Police found what they estimated was a pound of the drug inside the home.
"We believe he wasn't going to buy the drug, he was going to steal it," the superintendent said.
Mr. Reid was taken to the Allegheny County Jail after his arrest earlier today.
"This is a nice neighborhood, a typical suburban middle-class neighborhood," Kennedy police Chief Anthony Bruni said. "This is the last thing anyone would expect to happen."
Neighbors said Mr. Coyner was studying business at Slippery Rock University and was working as a summer intern at a local logistics company.
He graduated from Montour High School, where he was a linebacker on the football team.
"He was a hardworking kid," said Matt Christiansen, who lives a few doors down from the Coyner home and who went to high school with Mr. Coyner. "He was dedicated."
Mr. Christiansen, 18, said his classmate would often look out for his younger teammates, driving them to practice.
Mr. Christiansen's father was sitting on his porch about 8 p.m. Monday when he saw three young men run down the street and leave in a red car. Other neighbors heard the sound of at least one gunshot.
Police officers soon flooded the street and told neighbors to keep inside.
First Published June 19, 2012 12:00 am
