In what began as a transaction for a small amount of marijuana, 17-year-old Nathan Assad was tragically shot and killed in Baldwin Borough, a suburb of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The male teenager had arranged to sell a half-ounce of marijuana for $140 to another teen, 16-year-old Nathan Lee. The meeting took a violent turn when, instead of paying, Lee allegedly robbed Assad of the marijuana and a gold chain.
Following the robbery on the night of August 15, 2017, Lee fled in a vehicle
driven by 17-year-old Bryson Koontz. Assad, along with a witness, decided to pursue them in their own car. The chase ended at the intersection of McAnulty and Horning roads, where Lee leaned out of the passenger window of the fleeing vehicle and fired at least three shots at Assad's car. One of the bullets struck Nathan Assad in the face. He was rushed to UPMC Mercy Hospital, where he died from his injuries in the early morning hours of August 16, 2017.
Both Nathan Lee and Bryson Koontz were arrested and charged as adults for their roles in the incident. Lee initially claimed that Assad had tried to rob him. However, he eventually pleaded guilty to third-degree murder and conspiracy to commit robbery. For his part in the fatal shooting, he was sentenced to serve 17.5 to 35 years in prison. Bryson Koontz, the driver of the vehicle, pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and robbery. His defense attorney argued that Koontz was only the driver and had tried to discourage Lee from shooting.
