Deon Traylor, a 41-year-old Black male from Pittsburgh, PA, was fatally shot in the head on October 28, 2016, at his Bayridge Avenue apartment. The incident occurred following an argument with Michael Frye, a 25-year-old man from Elliott, over a $20 drug debt. Traylor had asked Frye to make several drug deals for him, and Frye claimed he was $20 short after completing the transactions.
This led to an altercation in which Frye pulled out a gun and shot Traylor in the head.
After the shooting, Frye stole $500, 11 grams of cocaine, one brick of heroin, and a safe from Traylor's home. He hid the safe on the roof of his apartment building. Traylor was taken to UPMC Mercy in critical condition and was later declared brain dead, leading to the removal of life support.
Frye was arrested and charged with third-degree murder. He eventually pleaded guilty to the charge as part of a plea deal, which resulted in a sentence of 15 to 35 years in state prison. The plea deal dropped the theft charge against Frye. Frye's attorney stated that the case was a tragedy for both the victim and Frye, who had no previous convictions and had only recently begun using drugs.
The case highlighted the severe consequences of drug-related disputes and the impact of such violence on both the victims and the perpetrators. Frye expressed regret for his actions and took responsibility for the crime.
