In the South Side Slopes neighborhood of Pittsburgh, a tragic series of events unfolded on the evening of March 19, 2018, leading to the death of 22-year-old Shawn Brandon. Brandon, a father to a young son with another child on the way, was shot in the chest at the corner of Marengo and Eccles streets. Witnesses reported seeing Brandon leaning into the driver's side window of a red car before hearing a gunshot.
Following the sound, they saw him running towards them on Esop Way, shouting that he had been shot and pleading for someone to call 911 before he collapsed.
In his final moments, as a witness relayed questions from a 911 operator, Brandon was asked if he knew who shot him. His first response was indistinct, but when asked again, he audibly identified 'Amasa Camp' as the person responsible. Soon after, Brandon stopped breathing and was pronounced dead at UPMC Mercy Hospital. This dying declaration immediately pointed investigators toward 21-year-old Amasa L. Camp.
The investigation led to the arrest of Amasa Camp, who was charged with homicide and illegal possession of a firearm. However, the case took a turn when another witness, Joseph Graham, came forward, identifying Keenan L. Lowe, 21, as the actual shooter. This led to homicide charges being filed against Lowe as well. Investigators believed the shooting occurred during a planned marijuana sale. According to one account, Brandon was in a car with Lowe, Camp, and Graham to sell them marijuana when Lowe allegedly pulled out a pistol and a struggle ensued.
The legal proceedings that followed painted a complex and at times conflicting picture of the events. Despite being named by the victim, the focus of the prosecution shifted to Keenan L. Lowe as the primary assailant. However, in February 2019, an Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge found Lowe not guilty of criminal homicide. The defense argued that the evidence, including the victim's dying words, pointed away from Lowe. While acquitted of the homicide charge, Lowe was found guilty of robbery and criminal conspiracy for his role in the incident and was subsequently sentenced to two to eight years in prison. Amasa Camp and Joseph Graham also faced charges in connection with the case.
