Todd Rogers Bell, a 25-year-old man from New Kensington, PA, tragically died on June 5, 2016, after being shot in a Parnassus alley. Rogers was known to be an avid football and basketball fan, and he enjoyed listening to music and rollerblading. He was born on May 20, 1991, in Arcadia, California, and attended Valley High School.
The incident occurred after an argument between Rogers and Daquane Faulk, a 23-year-old man from Penn Hills. Witnesses reported that Faulk and Rogers had been drinking and smoking marijuana together before the altercation. The argument escalated, and Faulk shot Rogers twice, once while he was on the ground. Rogers was taken to UPMC Presbyterian in Oakland, where he succumbed to his injuries the following day.
Faulk was arrested five days after the shooting and charged with first-degree murder and a firearms offense. During the preliminary hearing, an eyewitness testified that Faulk and Rogers had been arguing in an apartment before the shooting occurred. Faulk was found wearing the same bulletproof vest he had on during the shooting when he was arrested in Wilkinsburg.
In October 2017, Faulk pleaded guilty to third-degree murder and illegal possession of a firearm. He was sentenced to 20 to 40 years in prison for Rogers' murder and received an additional five to ten years for the firearm charge. The judge also imposed a consecutive sentence for assaulting a guard at the county jail.
The community responded to Rogers' death with a prayer vigil organized by his friends and family. About 100 people gathered at Kennedy Riverside Park in Arnold to remember Rogers and unite against the violence plaguing the area. The vigil was a call for the community to come together and address the issues leading to such senseless deaths.
Rogers is survived by his father, Todd Bell; his mother, Regina Jackson; siblings, Devon and Brandon Dave, Jordan Bell, Adrian Salazar, and Noah McDonald; and grandfather, Timothy Jackson. His memorial service was held at Canaan Baptist Church in New Kensington.
The tragic death of Todd Rogers Bell serves as a stark reminder of the impact of violence on families and communities. It highlights the need for collective efforts to address and prevent such senseless acts of violence.
