On a summer evening in Pittsburgh's Brighton Heights neighborhood, 27-year-old Deona Barnett, a mother of five, was walking home. At approximately 9 p.m. on July 28, 2015, as she made her way along Antrim Street, she was shot multiple times. Neighbors reported hearing a series of gunshots, and one ran to her side, holding her hand and offering comfort until paramedics arrived.
Barnett, who was six weeks pregnant, was rushed to a nearby hospital but succumbed to her injuries.
Before she passed away, she was able to utter a single word to a police officer who accompanied her in the ambulance, the name 'Richard.' Investigators believe she was targeted, as she was walking alone at the time of the attack. Witnesses described seeing a 'shadowy figure' at the scene, but no positive identification could be made in the darkness.
In the days following the shooting, Barnett's family expressed their grief and desire for justice, with some relatives feeling confident that an arrest was imminent as they believed witnesses were coming forward. Despite their hopes, no arrests have been made in the case. Police later sought public assistance, releasing information that a silver or gray 2007 to 2009 Saturn XR model was seen leaving the area at the time of the shooting. The motive for the killing remains unclear, though police have stated that it was not a robbery. The investigation into the death of Deona Barnett remains open and unsolved.
