In the winter of 2017, what began as an evening inside a Swissvale apartment ended in a burst of violence that left two teenagers dead and two others wounded. Robert P. 'Robbie' DeTorre III, an 18-year-old white male from the nearby community of Forest Hills, was one of the young men who lost his life on that Monday, February 6th. A recent graduate of Woodland Hills High School, he was known for his enjoyment of outdoor activities like football, hunting, and snowboarding.
The tragic
events unfolded shortly after 8 p.m. in a second-floor unit at the Forest Apartments on Smokey Wood Drive. When Swissvale police arrived, they discovered a scene of chaos with four individuals having sustained gunshot wounds. DeTorre and 19-year-old Anthony Hoots of Turtle Creek were pronounced dead at the scene from multiple gunshot wounds to the trunk. Two other males were transported to a local hospital for treatment.
Investigators from the Allegheny County Police Department determined that there were no signs of a forced entry and that the four men, who were in possession of several firearms, were likely shooting at one another. The incident was not believed to have involved any intruders. Authorities later stated that they suspected robbery was the motive behind the deadly exchange.
In the days following the shooting, the Allegheny County Police announced a surprising development in the case: no charges would be filed. While acknowledging that they had determined which individual was attempting to rob the other, they declined to release that specific information to the public. The decision meant that there would be no arrests or suspects pursued in connection with the deaths of Robert DeTorre III and Anthony Hoots, leaving their families to grieve a loss compounded by unanswered questions.
