On a Tuesday afternoon in December, 16-year-old Chance Naylor, a male student at McKeesport High School, left his home to walk with a friend to the nearby Unimart on Versailles Avenue. It was December 13, 2022, and what began as a routine trip to the convenience store turned into a tragedy that would leave his family and community searching for answers.
As Naylor and his friend approached the entrance of the Unimart, they were ambushed by an unidentified man. Surveillance footage from the store captured the harrowing moments as the assailant, who appeared to have been waiting for them, emerged from behind an ice machine. After a brief exchange of words, the man pulled out a gun and opened fire, shooting both teenagers multiple times as they tried to enter the store. The aftermath was a scene of shattered glass and strewn shelf casings.
Chance Naylor was struck in the head and, despite being rushed to the hospital, succumbed to his injuries. His friend was also critically wounded in the attack. In the immediate aftermath, police had not identified a suspect or determined a motive for the shooting.
In the months that followed, Chance's father, Troy Naylor, made public pleas for justice, describing his son as a 'homebody' who enjoyed computers and basketball. He believed his son may have been targeted out of 'jealousy, hate, and out of spite' because he did not involve himself with local gangs. The family offered a reward for any information that would lead to an arrest. However, as of early 2023, authorities had not publicly identified any suspects or made any arrests in the case, which remains an active investigation.
