In the early hours of March 30, 2019, the life of 27-year-old Kenneth Baptiste Jr., an African American man from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was tragically cut short. The incident unfolded at a birthday party in the Homewood neighborhood, a gathering that was being streamed on Facebook Live. An argument between Baptiste and another guest, Geron Anderson, escalated into a physical fight.
The altercation took a fatal turn when Anderson, then 24, produced a gun and shot Baptiste inside the residence on North Murtland Avenue.
The violence didn't end there. As Baptiste attempted to flee, Anderson chased him outside and fired several more shots. When police responded to reports of the shooting shortly before 1:30 a.m., they found Baptiste on the street with at least one gunshot wound to his upper body. He was rushed to a nearby hospital in what was initially described as a stable condition, but he succumbed to his injuries a short time later. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner's Office subsequently ruled his death a homicide.
For several months, the case remained under investigation. Then, on June 19, 2019, Pittsburgh police arrested Geron Anderson of the Hill District. He was charged with criminal homicide and firearm violations in connection with Baptiste's death. Anderson remained in the Allegheny County Jail from the time of his arrest.
In May 2023, Geron Anderson, then 28, pleaded guilty to third-degree murder and a firearms charge. As a result of his plea, he was sentenced to 10 to 20 years in prison. The more than four years he had already spent in custody since his 2019 arrest were to be applied to his sentence.
