John James Hornezes Jr., a 20-year-old male, was killed on October 15, 2022, in a shootout at a Sunoco gas station on Pittsburgh's North Side. The incident, which resulted in two other fatalities, was described by authorities as a gun battle between rival groups. The other victims were two innocent bystanders, Betty Jean Averytt, 59, and Jacquelyn Mehalic, 33, who were waiting at a nearby bus stop and were caught in the crossfire.
The violence began after an interaction at the gas
station between individuals from the two groups. Surveillance footage showed a black Hyundai Tucson at the scene around the time of the shooting. Investigators believe Hornezes was one of the shooters involved in the altercation.
In the days following the shooting, police made several arrests. Jaylone Hines, 21, and Charron Troutman, 19, were charged in connection with the triple homicide. Hines was charged with two counts of homicide for the deaths of Averytt and Mehalic. Troutman faced one count of homicide in the death of John Hornezes Jr. However, the homicide charge against Troutman was later withdrawn after it was determined that the bullet trajectory did not support the claim that he fired the fatal shot. A jury later acquitted Jaylone Hines of the homicide charges, with his attorney arguing he fired in self-defense.
The tragedy surrounding Hornezes' death was compounded by a mass shooting that occurred at his funeral on October 28, 2022, at the Destiny of Faith Church in Brighton Heights. As mourners gathered, gunmen opened fire, injuring six people. The incident was believed to be a retaliatory action connected to the initial shooting. Two teenagers, Shawn Davis, 19, and Hezekiah Nixon, 16, were later charged in connection with the funeral shooting. Nixon pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including aggravated assault, and was sentenced to 11 to 22 years in prison.
