In a tragic turn of events on December 26, 2017, 7-year-old Jo Lawrence Stewart, a male, was fatally shot in a home on Columbia Avenue in Swissvale, a borough just outside of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The young boy was found lying on top of his father, 29-year-old Walter Stewart Jr., who was also killed in the incident. The shooting, which authorities believed was the result of a drug deal gone wrong, unfolded at approximately 4:30 p.m.
Jo Lawrence was rushed to Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC but succumbed to his injuries less than an hour later.
The investigation into the double homicide led to the swift arrest of three men: Donavan Wilson, 23, Brandon Barnett, 26, and Jacqua Barnett, 30. Each of the suspects was charged with two counts of homicide and conspiracy. According to a criminal complaint, a witness reported hearing a scuffle and then multiple gunshots after Walter Stewart Jr. entered the residence. Authorities suggested that Stewart had gone to the house to purchase marijuana when an exchange of gunfire occurred.
The legal proceedings against the three suspects took an unexpected turn in May 2019 when the Allegheny County District Attorney's office withdrew all homicide and conspiracy charges against Wilson and the Barnett brothers. The decision was made due to the death of a key witness, which prosecutors stated created insurmountable evidentiary issues. While the charges were withdrawn, the possibility of them being refiled at a later date remains, as there is no statute of limitations for murder in Pennsylvania. Defense attorneys for the accused had maintained that their clients acted in self-defense.
