On a Halloween night in Pittsburgh, what should have been a time of festivities turned into a scene of violence that claimed the life of 21-year-old Laffayette Gordon and two others. The incident unfolded on October 31, 2020, in the Allentown neighborhood of the city. It was shortly after 9 p.m. when the sound of gunfire shattered the evening calm on Beltzhoover Avenue.
The violence is believed to have started in the street before moving into a house.
When police arrived at the scene, they discovered a chaotic and tragic situation with multiple victims. Laffayette Gordon and 17-year-old Joseph Hendricks were found deceased at the scene. A third victim, 24-year-old Malik Allen, was transported to a local hospital in critical condition with a gunshot wound to the head and succumbed to his injuries the following day. A fourth individual, a 17-year-old male, was also found at the scene with a gunshot wound to the face and was taken to the hospital in stable condition.
In the aftermath of the shooting, investigators from the Violent Crime and Mobile Crime units cordoned off the block to process the scene for evidence. Authorities were quick to dispel any rumors that the shooting was related to a Halloween party or any other type of gathering. The investigation into the motive and the precise sequence of events continued, but law enforcement officials reported a significant development in the case. According to Pittsburgh Police, it is believed that the individuals responsible for the shooting were among those who were either killed or injured in the incident. Consequently, police announced that there were no suspects at large, and no arrests have been made in connection with the deaths of Laffayette Gordon, Joseph Hendricks, and Malik Allen.
