In the Knoxville neighborhood of Pittsburgh, a teenage friendship ended in a heart-wrenching tragedy. Kenneith Lampkin, a 16-year-old male, was fatally shot on a Saturday in March 2014. The incident occurred at his own home on Zara Street, a place that should have been a sanctuary. Kenneith was a student at Urban Pathways Charter School, where he was described by his teachers and principals as a great young man who was well-liked by his peers. He had a deep love for his family and friends.
Tragically, Kenneith had previously lost an older brother to gun violence and had promised his mother she would not have to bury another child.
On that fateful Saturday evening, Kenneith was with his best friend, 17-year-old Joseph Robinson. The two were reportedly 'playing army,' a childhood game that took a devastating turn when a loaded gun was involved. A single gunshot struck Kenneith in the head. When police and paramedics arrived, they found him unresponsive in a second-floor bathroom. He was rushed to UPMC Mercy Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries on Monday, March 24, 2014. The news sent shockwaves through their community, leaving two families torn apart by what friends described as a tragic accident.
In the immediate aftermath, a distraught Joseph Robinson allegedly told police he was unaware the gun was loaded. He also admitted to hiding two weapons after the shooting, which authorities later recovered near the home. Robinson was arrested and charged as an adult with aggravated assault and other crimes. Following Kenneith's death, police announced their intention to upgrade the charge to criminal homicide. The community mourned the loss of a young life, with students at Urban Pathways writing messages on Kenneith's locker in remembrance of their friend.
