A 38-year-old man, Laron Harrison, lost his life in a fatal shooting in the early morning hours of Saturday, May 31, 2025, in Pittsburgh's Northview Heights neighborhood. The incident occurred inside a residence on the 100 block of Hazlett Street shortly before 1 a.m. Police were dispatched to the scene after a four-round ShotSpotter alert. Upon arrival, they discovered Harrison with multiple gunshot wounds to his back and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
The investigation into Harrison's death led to the arrest of 41-year-old Cory Lavelle Carter of Bedford Dwellings. Carter was charged with criminal homicide in connection with the shooting. According to the criminal complaint, investigators utilized surveillance footage and license plate readers to link Carter to the crime. Video evidence showed a man, later identified as Carter, parking his Volkswagen Jetta nearby and approaching the Hazlett Street apartment around the time of the shooting. The footage captured him briefly entering the front door, which coincided with the ShotSpotter alert, before running away with a female companion.
A witness inside the home told investigators that a person in a black hoodie carrying a pistol appeared at the partially open front door and began shooting while Harrison was speaking with an unknown female. Police later identified Carter as the owner of the Jetta and arrested him. During questioning, Carter, who operates an unlicensed taxi service, admitted to being in the area and wearing a black hoodie at the time of the homicide but denied any involvement. He acknowledged knowing Harrison and claimed that while Harrison had 'problems with him,' he did not have any issues with Harrison.
The investigation also revealed a prior incident between the two men. Carter's vehicle had been seen in the vicinity of a 'shots-fired' incident involving Harrison that had occurred just days before the fatal shooting. At the time of his death, Harrison was out on bail for firearms-related violations and other charges stemming from that earlier event. Following his arrest, Carter was placed in the Allegheny County Jail and was denied bail. He was scheduled for a preliminary hearing on June 13.
