In the East Hills neighborhood of Pittsburgh, 28-year-old Marqua Wilson, a mother of eight, was shot and killed in her home on November 9, 2015. The tragic event unfolded after an argument with her 20-year-old ex-boyfriend, Markese Reese, concerning money for diapers and baby wipes.
The relationship between Wilson and Reese had been troubled for years, with a history of domestic abuse that prompted Wilson to seek protection-from-abuse orders against him.
On the day of the incident, Reese had stayed the night at Wilson's home. An argument over the reimbursement for baby supplies escalated, leading to a physical altercation. A witness who was present in the house reported hearing a loud 'boom' from the second floor where the couple had gone. Shortly after, Reese came downstairs with blood on him and fled the scene. Wilson was discovered on the second floor with a gunshot wound to her head.
A manhunt for Reese ensued, and he was taken into custody the following day at an acquaintance's home in Penn Hills. He was subsequently charged with homicide. Reese initially claimed the shooting was an accident, stating that a gun went off while he and Wilson were struggling over it.
Ultimately, Markese Reese pleaded guilty to third-degree murder and a firearms violation. In October 2016, he was sentenced to serve 12 to 30 years in prison for the death of Marqua Wilson. The senseless act of violence left eight children without their mother and a family devastated by their loss.
