In the early morning hours of August 12, 2015, the life of 35-year-old Donald Jenkins of Pittsburgh's North Side was tragically cut short. Jenkins, a man remembered by his family for his devotion, was in Rankin visiting his girlfriend when gunfire shattered the pre-dawn quiet at approximately 4 a.m. on Miller Avenue. A neighbor, awakened by the sound of two or three gunshots, witnessed the frantic scene that unfolded as Jenkins's girlfriend screamed for someone to call for help.
Despite her desperate pleas and attempts to keep him conscious, Jenkins, who had been shot in the trunk, succumbed to his injuries less than thirty minutes later at UPMC Mercy. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner's office ruled his death a homicide. In the immediate aftermath, his family was left in shock, struggling to comprehend the violent end to his life. His older sister expressed the family's disbelief, stating that they suspected the perpetrator was someone known to Jenkins.
The investigation into the shooting led authorities to Cyrano Morrison. Following a weeklong search, U.S. Marshals and other law enforcement officials apprehended Morrison in Bellaire, Ohio. He was subsequently charged with criminal homicide, recklessly endangering another person, and firearms violations. Morrison was extradited from Ohio to face justice in Pennsylvania for the death of Donald Jenkins.
In August 2018, Cyrano Morrison, then 31, of McKees Rocks, pleaded guilty to third-degree murder. Appearing before Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge Beth A. Lazzara, Morrison also pleaded guilty to recklessly endangering another person and two firearms violations. For the murder of Donald Jenkins, he was sentenced to 20 to 40 years in state prison. He also received two years of probation for the other charges.
