On a cold February morning in 2025, the body of 21-year-old Daniel Anthony Smith of Duquesne was discovered, marking a tragic end to a young life. A person walking through the McKeesport and Versailles Cemetery on the morning of February 17th came across the grim scene at the Pirl Street entrance and immediately alerted the authorities. First responders arrived at approximately 10:44 a.m.
to find Smith deceased, having suffered a fatal gunshot wound to the head.
Investigators from the Allegheny County Police Department's Homicide Unit quickly took over the case. While his body was found on a Monday, detectives believe that Daniel Anthony Smith, a White male, was actually killed the evening before, on Sunday, February 16th, sometime between 8:30 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. The evidence at the scene suggested to detectives that Smith had not been killed in the cemetery. It is believed that he was shot at another location and his body was subsequently left at the cemetery entrance. This theory was supported by the fact that there was no snow on his body, despite a recent snowfall, indicating he had been moved after his death. The lack of any surveillance cameras within the cemetery presented an immediate challenge to the investigation.
As of early March 2026, the investigation into the death of Daniel Anthony Smith remains active and ongoing. Law enforcement officials have not publicly identified any suspects or made any arrests in connection with the homicide. The Allegheny County Police Department has made public appeals for information, urging anyone who might have seen or heard anything unusual near the Pirl Street entrance to the cemetery on the night of February 16, 2025, to come forward. They have specifically asked for any information that might place a person or a vehicle in the vicinity during the estimated time of the shooting. A tip line has been established for callers who wish to remain anonymous as the search for answers and justice for Daniel Anthony Smith continues.
