On a cold December afternoon in Pittsburgh, a child custody exchange turned into a scene of violence that claimed the life of 36-year-old Corey Washington. The Black male was shot multiple times on December 26, 2022, in the parking lot of a Family Dollar store on Brighton Road in the city's Brighton Heights neighborhood. First responders found Washington at the scene and transported him to a local hospital in critical condition, but he was pronounced dead upon arrival.
The events leading
up to the fatal shooting began with a heated argument between Washington and the mother of his 4-year-old son, Tanisha Turner, who had arrived separately for the custody exchange. The verbal dispute escalated into a physical altercation. As the conflict intensified, Turner's boyfriend, Ambrose J. Sample Jr., who had been waiting in a car, got out and fired at least three shots at Washington. Surveillance video from a nearby library captured the incident. Witnesses, including Washington's then-17-year-old daughter, stated that Washington was attempting to walk away when he was shot.
In January 2023, authorities arrested 42-year-old Ambrose J. Sample Jr. in connection with the shooting. He was charged with criminal homicide, persons not to possess a firearm, and carrying a firearm without a license. Sample had a prior conviction for third-degree murder from 1999 and had been paroled. His defense attorney argued that Sample acted in defense of his girlfriend.
The case went to trial, but a mistrial was declared in March 2026. The mistrial was granted after a police officer inadvertently mentioned to the jury that Sample had a previous homicide on his record, which the judge had ruled inadmissible. A new trial date has been set as the legal proceedings continue. The death of Corey Washington, who was remembered by loved ones for his big smile, huge heart, and entrepreneurial spirit, left a lasting impact on his family and the community.
