On a Thursday afternoon in August 2021, a dispute between two men over a woman culminated in the death of 30-year-old Terrence L. Coates in downtown Pittsburgh. The fatal encounter unfolded around 1 p.m. in an alley situated near Fort Duquesne Boulevard, between Sixth and Seventh streets. Coates was shot multiple times in the chest and was rushed to UPMC Mercy hospital in critical condition, but tragically succumbed to his injuries an hour later.
The events leading to the shooting began
with a verbal altercation between Taylor Wible, 21, of the Hill District, and Coates. According to police reports, Wible confronted Coates because Coates had allegedly referred to a woman named Ela Aydin, 18, as a 'rat.' The argument escalated, and Coates reportedly challenged Wible to a physical fight in the nearby alley. Wible, however, declined the fight and instead warned Coates, 'if you go in the alley I'm gonna pop you.' Surveillance footage captured Wible following Coates to the alley and assuming a 'shooter's stance' before firing his weapon. Wible later admitted to police that he knew Coates was unarmed at the time of the shooting.
Following the shooting, Wible and Aydin fled the scene in a blue BMW driven by Aydin. Wible stated to police that Aydin thanked him for shooting Coates as they drove away. The pair went to Wible's home in the Hill District where he cleaned himself up before they headed towards Penn Hills. However, their escape was short-lived as police, having flagged the license plate of the BMW, stopped the vehicle on the South Side. Both Wible and Aydin were taken into custody for questioning.
Taylor Wible was subsequently charged with criminal homicide and a firearm violation. It was revealed that he was not legally permitted to carry a firearm due to a prior guilty plea for aggravated assault in 2019. Ela Aydin faced a charge of hindering apprehension. Both suspects were booked and held at the Allegheny County Jail.
