On a grim Friday evening in the fall of 2016, the life of a young Pittsburgh man was tragically cut short. Michael West, a 27-year-old Black male, was fatally shot on October 7, 2016, in Wilkinsburg, a borough adjacent to Pittsburgh. The incident unfolded in the 400 block of South Avenue at approximately 5:30 p.m., when authorities were summoned to the scene following reports of gunfire.
Upon their arrival, first responders discovered Michael West suffering from a critical gunshot wound.
He was immediately transported to a local hospital for emergency medical treatment, but tragically, he succumbed to his injuries. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner's office later confirmed West's identity.
In the wake of the shooting, law enforcement launched a homicide investigation. Despite their efforts and appeals to the public for any information that could lead to an arrest, the case has grown cold. Investigators have not been able to determine a motive for the shooting.
Authorities did receive a description of a possible suspect seen fleeing the area at the time of the incident. The individual was described as a thin Black male who was wearing all dark clothing. To date, no arrests have been made in connection with the murder of Michael West, and his case remains an unsolved homicide. His death was one of 105 homicides recorded in Allegheny County in 2016.
