On what should have been a joyous celebration of her 17th birthday, Alexus N. Chester, a 17-year-old African American female, was tragically killed. The evening of Tuesday, June 11, 2019, found Alexus at a party located at an Airbnb rental on McNeil Place in Pittsburgh's Hill District. The gathering, intended to celebrate both a graduation and her birthday, turned into a scene of violence at approximately 11:30 p.m.
when gunfire erupted.
When police officers arrived at the scene, alerted by a ShotSpotter notification of multiple gunshots, they discovered a chaotic and tragic situation. Alexus was found on the porch of the home, suffering from a gunshot wound. She was rushed to a local hospital in critical condition but ultimately succumbed to her injuries. The shooting also claimed the life of 20-year-old Tyrese Smith, who was found deceased at the scene, and a third victim sustained minor grazing injuries.
In the wake of the tragedy, family and friends remembered Alexus as a young woman with a bright future who was largely a homebody; the party was a rare outing for her. Her mother described her as an innocent bystander who was on the porch when the shooting began. Alexus was a junior at the Student Achievement Center and had aspirations of becoming a pediatrician.
The investigation into the double homicide was initiated immediately, but the motive for the shooting remained unclear. In the days following the incident, law enforcement had not identified any suspects or made any arrests. Despite the passage of time, there have been no subsequent public announcements regarding arrests or the identification of any suspects in connection with the deaths of Alexus N. Chester and Tyrese Smith. The case, a brutal end to a young life on what should have been a day of celebration, remains unresolved.
