In the late hours of May 22, 2018, the life of 28-year-old Richard Hinton, a Black male from Uniontown, Pennsylvania, was tragically cut short. Inside a residence on Dunlap Street, Hinton was shot and killed, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. The incident, which unfolded shortly before 9:30 p.m., was witnessed by two children, aged 11 and 14, who were inside the home at the time.
According to witness statements provided to the police, Tyree Jamal Smith, a 22-year-old from Penn Hills, was present in the house with another unidentified man. An argument erupted between Hinton and Smith, escalating to the point where Smith allegedly shot Hinton in the head. As he fled the scene, Smith is reported to have fired additional shots. The children's testimony proved crucial in the initial stages of the investigation.
The day following the fatal shooting, law enforcement apprehended Tyree Jamal Smith in New Brighton. His arrest was the result of a tip that led police to his location. Smith was subsequently charged with a litany of serious offenses, including criminal homicide, aggravated assault, illegal possession of a firearm, and reckless endangerment. While Smith was taken into custody, the second man, described as a Black male with a large build and dark skin, remained at large.
During a preliminary hearing, further harrowing details of the night of Hinton's death emerged. A 13-year-old boy testified that he was awakened by the voices of two men in his bedroom and witnessed them passing a gun back and forth. He told the court that Smith had threatened to shoot anyone who came upstairs. Moments later, Hinton entered the room and the fatal argument with Smith began. The young witness recounted that after shooting Hinton, Smith took a handgun from the victim's waistband. Following the initial shots, the boy heard a voice from downstairs plead, 'It's me! It's me!' which was followed by another gunshot. His younger sister then screamed, 'Don't shoot my dad! Don't shoot my dad!' before a final shot was heard from the back of the house. The case against Tyree Smith was held for court based on the evidence presented.
