In the early morning hours of April 18, 2014, the life of 33-year-old Leonard Young was tragically cut short in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His body was discovered inside a car parked in the lot of the Mount Ararat Church in the Larimer neighborhood. Young had been shot twice in the chest, and the back window of the vehicle was shattered, presumably from the gunfire.
Although neighbors later reported hearing gunshots around 3 a.m., authorities were not alerted until Young's body was found later that morning at approximately 8 a.m.
The initial investigation into the shooting yielded no immediate suspects or a motive for the killing. However, the case would not remain cold for long. Investigators were aided by security camera footage from the nearby church, which captured the incident. This crucial piece of evidence, combined with dedicated police work, eventually pointed them toward a person of interest.
A significant breakthrough in the case came in April 2015, a year after Young's death, when the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police Homicide Squad, with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service, arrested 18-year-old Justin Bonner. Bonner was taken into custody without incident at a home in the West End section of Pittsburgh. He was subsequently charged with the homicide of Leonard Young.
Following his arrest, details emerged suggesting Bonner was not alone at the scene of the crime. In a taped confession, Bonner allegedly admitted to being present during the shooting but denied being the one who pulled the trigger. He implicated another individual, and police confirmed that the investigation was ongoing despite Bonner's arrest. In addition to the homicide charge, Bonner also faced charges related to marijuana possession with intent to deliver.
