In the early morning hours of July 10, 2015, the life of Derek Anthony McClellan, a 44-year-old African American man from McKeesport, Pennsylvania, came to a violent and abrupt end. A passing motorist discovered McClellan inside his SUV at the intersection of Broad and Chambers streets in a desolate area of Clairton. He was in the driver's seat, the vehicle still running and in drive with his foot on the brake.
He had been shot multiple times in the head in what police described as an 'execution-style' killing.
Neighbors in the area reported hearing a series of what they initially thought were firecrackers, about four or five pops in succession, around 4 a.m. The grim discovery was made around 6 a.m., and when police and paramedics arrived, McClellan was pronounced dead at the scene. The vehicle he was in had a Louisiana license plate. Investigators found a large quantity of narcotics in the SUV, leading them to suspect that the motive for the shooting was drug-related. At the time, police noted that McClellan had an extensive criminal record, which included a prior charge of attempted homicide.
Derek McClellan was a father to eleven children and a grandfather to one. He was survived by his wife, Carla, and several siblings. His family and friends held memorial services for him in McKeesport, and he was later buried in Carnegie.
Despite the initial investigation and the clear indications of a targeted killing, no arrests have ever been made in connection with Derek McClellan's murder. The case remains unsolved, with no publicly identified suspects. The Allegheny County Police continue to investigate the homicide, leaving his family and community searching for answers and justice for his untimely death.
