On January 20, 2016, Donte Dawkins, aged 29, was killed in a double homicide in the Esplen neighborhood of Pittsburgh. Dawkins and Divine Barrett, aged 24, were both fatally shot in what appeared to be a targeted attack at their residence. Reports indicated that the shooting occurred on a public street and was heard by police officers, who were nearby at the time. Despite initial efforts, no arrests have been made, and the case remains unsolved.
Pittsburgh has struggled with a large number of unsolved homicides, particularly affecting Black communities. Dawkins' death is part of a broader pattern of unsolved killings in Pittsburgh, where 97% of unresolved cases in recent years have involved Black victims. Community members and Dawkins' family have pleaded for justice, but lack of cooperation from witnesses and limited communication from the police have been significant obstacles to solving the case. The police, overwhelmed by caseloads and a lack of public support, have found it difficult to make headway in these investigations, and Dawkins' family, like many others, continues to await answers. His face became part of a billboard campaign offering rewards for information, but despite this public attention, the case remains open.
