In the late hours of a Tuesday in Pittsburgh's Homewood neighborhood, the life of 29-year-old Donovan James Goodwine was tragically cut short. On May 28, 2019, authorities responded to a ShotSpotter alert and a 911 call about a man down on Forest Way. Upon arrival, they discovered Goodwine, who had sustained a fatal gunshot wound to the head. Medics at the scene pronounced him dead, leaving a community to grapple with the senseless violence.
For a time, the investigation into Goodwine's
death seemed to stall, prompting Crime Stoppers to offer a reward for any information that could lead to an arrest. The case, however, took a significant turn in the weeks that followed. Investigators received a crucial break when two individuals came forward with information they had seen on social media. They shared an Instagram video with the police that allegedly showed a young man discussing the crime. This digital confession pointed directly to 19-year-old Lavaar Peters.
Further investigation revealed that Peters had been acting strangely on the night of the shooting. A witness who was with him before and after the incident told police that Peters was uncharacteristically quiet and shaking. When asked if he was alright, Peters reportedly said he was 'missing bullets from his gun.' Armed with the social media evidence and witness testimony, police charged Peters with criminal homicide and carrying a firearm without a license. At the time the charges were filed, Peters was already incarcerated at the Allegheny County Jail on unrelated matters.
