Maurice Freeman, a 21-year-old male of African American ethnicity, tragically lost his life on August 1, 2014, in Pittsburgh, PA. He was fatally shot in the Northview Heights neighborhood around 1 a.m. while walking home from a basketball game. According to the Allegheny County Medical Examiner's Office, Maurice died from multiple gunshot wounds.
The investigation into Maurice's death revealed that Paul Kendrick, a 20-year-old male from Northview Heights, was responsible for the
shooting. Witnesses reported that Kendrick and his friends confronted Maurice, asking him where he was from. When Maurice replied that he was from Arlington, Kendrick's group responded with a threat, saying, "If you ain't from Northview, you gotta die." Shortly after the confrontation, Kendrick and his friends followed Maurice and shot him multiple times.
Paul Kendrick was arrested on August 26, 2014, after being pulled over in a vehicle under suspicion of DUI. During the investigation, witnesses identified Kendrick from a photo array, and he was charged with first-degree murder, conspiracy, and illegal possession of a firearm. On May 26, 2015, Kendrick was found guilty on all charges. On August 24, 2015, Common Pleas Judge David R. Cashman sentenced Kendrick to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
The case highlighted the ongoing issue of violence in the Northview Heights neighborhood and the impact it has on the community. Maurice Freeman's parents described their son as a hardworking and generous individual who always aspired to be the best he could be. His death was a shock and a nightmare for his family, who continue to feel the pain of their loss.
The investigation and subsequent trial brought some measure of justice for Maurice Freeman, but his family and the community continue to grapple with the senseless violence that took his life.
