On the evening of December 18, 2025, Damien Powell, a 27-year-old White male from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, became the victim of a fatal shooting in the city's Carrick neighborhood. The incident unfolded around 5:15 p.m. in the 1200 block of Linnview Avenue. Powell, who was also known to friends and family as Damien Milton, had reportedly told his girlfriend he was making a quick trip to a nearby store and would return shortly. Moments later, the sound of gunfire erupted in the street, prompting a swift response from local emergency services and the Pittsburgh Police.
Officers arriving at the scene discovered Powell and a second victim, identified as 23-year-old Quaziah Jones of McKeesport, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Powell was found lying on the ground by his girlfriend, who had run outside without a coat or shoes after hearing the shots, hoping to find him safe. Despite the immediate arrival of first responders and subsequent transport to UPMC Mercy Hospital, both men succumbed to their injuries. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner later confirmed that Powell died from gunshot wounds to the torso.
Following the violence, investigators recovered two firearms at the scene but did not immediately apprehend a shooter. Witnesses and police reports indicated that a suspect was seen fleeing the area on foot, heading down Nobles Lane away from the site of the shooting. As the investigation continued into the following weeks, detectives worked to piece together the events leading up to the double homicide. By late January 2026, no arrests had been publicly announced, and authorities had not released a detailed description of the suspect. Community members and loved ones, including Powell's mother and the mother of his two children, gathered for a vigil shortly after the tragedy to honor his memory, describing him as a devoted father and a source of light for those who knew him.
