On a Friday afternoon, September 4, 2015, 14-year-old Desean Fountain, an African American male, was walking home from school in his East Liberty neighborhood in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. As he made his way through an apartment complex on Ipswich Court, tragedy struck. He was shot in the head in a senseless act of violence.
Emergency responders rushed Desean to Children's Hospital in critical condition. He underwent surgery and fought for his life for several days.
However, his injuries proved too severe, and he was pronounced dead on Wednesday, September 9, 2015. At the time of the shooting, witnesses reported that he was carrying a backpack, a stark reminder of the everyday routine that was so violently interrupted.
The shooting of the young student sent shockwaves through the community. In the wake of his death, family, friends, and neighbors gathered for a vigil to honor his memory and to make a plea for an end to the violence that had claimed another young life. His mother, Patricia Fountain, expressed a hope that her son's death could be a catalyst for positive change, preventing other families from enduring such a devastating loss.
Despite the community's outcry and law enforcement's investigation into the homicide, no arrests have been made in connection with Desean Fountain's death. The case remains unsolved, with no suspects publicly identified. Pittsburgh Crimestoppers offered a reward for information that could lead to an arrest, but the individuals responsible for his killing have yet to be brought to justice. In his memory, the DeSean Fountain Memorial Fund was established at The Pittsburgh Foundation to support mentoring programs and after-school activities for children, a lasting legacy for a life cut short.
