In the early morning hours of a Saturday in October 2018, violence shattered the night near the Rankin Bridge, leaving a young man from McKeesport, Pennsylvania, fatally wounded. Twenty-four-year-old Dijuan Bray was the passenger in a dark blue Chevrolet Colorado pick-up truck when both he and the 33-year-old driver were shot in the head at approximately 3:35 a.m.
Despite his own serious injuries, the driver managed to get the vehicle to UPMC McKeesport hospital around 3:42 a.m.. From there, both men were transferred to trauma hospitals for more advanced care. Tragically, Dijuan Bray, a graduate of McKeesport Area High School where he had been an athlete on both the football and basketball teams, succumbed to his injuries and passed away on Sunday, October 14, 2018, at UPMC Presbyterian Hospital. The driver of the truck survived his wounds, which were described as non-life-threatening.
Known affectionately as “Booder,” Dijuan was a father to two children, a son and a daughter. He was a member of the Bethlehem Baptist Church and was employed as a Linen Processor in West Homestead. His family and friends remembered him as an outspoken, blunt, humorous, and caring individual.
The investigation into the shooting was hampered by a lack of cooperation from the surviving victim, who was known to McKeesport police. Investigators were unable to determine a motive for the shooting. Allegheny County Police asked for the public's help, urging anyone with information to come forward and contact their tipline. As of now, there have been no public announcements regarding any arrests or the identification of any suspects in the murder of Dijuan Bray. The case remains an unsolved homicide, leaving a family to mourn and a community without answers.
