Trijuan Williams, a 17-year-old Black male, was killed on the night of April 21, 2014, inside a home on Martha Street in Munhall, just outside Pittsburgh. He was described in reports as being from Munhall, Homestead, and the Pittsburgh area, and funeral information identified him as Trijaun Cortez Williams, formerly of Erie and a senior at Steel Valley High School.
That Monday night, what should have been a quiet evening inside his aunt and guardian Valetta Hosey’s home turned violent when gunfire erupted from outside.
Police said the shooting happened around 9:30 p.m. as shots were fired into the house from the yard. Early reports said at least one, possibly two, gunmen fired through a window, while later police accounts described four people shooting into the home. Nine or ten shots were reportedly fired. One of those bullets struck Williams in the chest. He was found inside the home and pronounced dead at the scene.
Family and friends remembered Williams as someone who made people laugh and was not known as a troublemaker. A friend, Ron Graham, described him as funny, laid-back, and the type of person who made everyone smile. Graham said Williams was not known for “beef” and was not the kind of person people associated with violence. His aunt, Valetta Hosey, called the shooting a tragedy and said he had been “gunned down in the prime of his life.” Funeral information said he enjoyed dancing, laughing, cracking jokes, fashion, sports, eating, and spending time with his brothers.
For nearly a month after the killing, the case remained under investigation. Then, in mid-May 2014, Allegheny County police announced a break. Detectives said they had secured arrest warrants for four people believed to have been involved in the shooting. Authorities arrested Corey Palmer, 19, of Munhall, and Terron Brown, 19, of McKeesport. Police were still looking for Deondre Broadus, 19, of East Pittsburgh, and Marquille Wright, 19, of Wilkinsburg. All four were accused of taking part in the attack and were charged with homicide, conspiracy, firearms violations, and recklessly endangering another person.
Police released identifying information as they searched for the remaining suspects. Broadus was described as 6 feet 1 inch tall, about 170 pounds, and known by the nickname “Boosie.” Wright was described as 5 feet 6 inches tall, thin, and known by the nickname “Killy.” Authorities said both were known to frequent Homestead and Munhall. By July 2014, reports indicated that Deondre Broadus, Terron Brown, and Corey Palmer had been ordered to stand trial in connection with Williams’ death.
The final fugitive, Marquille Wright, was captured in August 2014 by the U.S. Marshals Western Pennsylvania Fugitive Task Force. At the time of his arrest, authorities said Wright had been wanted since a May 15 warrant was issued in the April shooting death of Williams. Reports stated that the other three suspects were already in custody by then. Publicly available news reports found for this synopsis identify the arrests, charges, and preliminary court movement, but they do not provide clear final trial outcomes, convictions, acquittals, plea agreements, or sentencing details for all four suspects.
