In the cold of a Pittsburgh January afternoon, the life of 25-year-old Chauncy Howard was brought to a violent and tragic end. On January 10, 2016, a 911 call reported shots fired in the Sheraden neighborhood. Responding officers discovered a white Chevy Malibu that had crashed into a utility pole on Universal Street. Inside the vehicle, they found Chauncy Howard, who had been fatally shot.
He was pronounced dead at the scene from multiple gunshot wounds to his neck, trunk, and extremities.
The investigation into Howard's death quickly led to two teenage suspects, 17-year-olds Charles Williams and Tremond Allston. Witnesses reported seeing two individuals fleeing the scene in a red Jeep. Police located a vehicle matching the description and, after a brief pursuit, apprehended five males. Williams and Allston were among them. A handgun thrown from the Jeep during the pursuit and another found near where Williams was hiding were recovered by police. Ballistic evidence later connected both firearms to the shell casings found at the scene of the shooting.
Both Williams and Allston were charged as adults with homicide, conspiracy, and firearms violations. The motive for the shooting was determined to be a planned robbery of Howard. The legal proceedings that followed took a dramatic turn when Williams's first trial ended in a mistrial due to jury tampering by his father. His father was subsequently convicted for the offense. In a later development, the charges against Tremond Allston were dropped.
Charles Williams faced a second trial and was ultimately found guilty of third-degree murder, possession of a firearm by a minor, and carrying a firearm without a license. For his role in the death of Chauncy Howard, he was sentenced to a term of 21 years and 8 months to 43 years and 4 months in prison. The case left a lasting impact on the community and the families involved, highlighting the devastating consequences of gun violence. Chauncy Howard was a father of three children.
