In the Homewood neighborhood of Pittsburgh, a life was abruptly cut short on the afternoon of February 3, 2016. Reginald Franklin Jr., a 27-year-old African-American man, was leaving a convenience store in the 7200 block of Frankstown Avenue when he was fatally shot. The incident occurred in broad daylight, at approximately 2:30 p.m., as children were getting off their school buses nearby.
Witnesses reported hearing multiple gunshots, and Franklin was found lying in the street.
Paramedics arrived at the scene and transported him to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital, but his injuries proved too severe, and he was pronounced dead a short time later. Investigators believe the gunman opened fire as Franklin exited the store and then fled the scene on foot, heading toward Sterrett Street. The manager of a restaurant across the street recognized Franklin as a regular customer.
In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, Pittsburgh police launched an investigation, appealing to the public for any information that could lead to the killer. A description of the suspect was released: a Black male, approximately 6-foot-1, with a thin build and shoulder-length dreadlocks. Despite the public appeal and the initial investigation, no arrests have been publicly announced in connection with the murder of Reginald Franklin Jr. The case has remained unsolved for years, leaving a community to grapple with the unanswered questions surrounding the violent death of a young man.
