On the morning of October 8, 2014, in Pittsburgh's Hill District, 17-year-old Eric Young was shot and killed as he was leaving his home on Morgan Street to go to school. The shooting occurred at approximately 7 a.m. in the presence of his mother, who was waiting to give him a ride. She tragically witnessed the event and attempted to revive her son at the scene. Young, a Black male, was a senior at Pittsburgh Milliones 6-12, also known as University Prep. He was described by school staff as a popular student who always had a smile on his face and was excited about a new job he had recently started at a local supermarket.
Authorities believe the shooting was not a random act of violence and that Young was the intended target. This belief was supported by the fact that he had been shot at in the same location just a few weeks prior to his death. In that earlier incident, witnesses reported seeing two males in dark, hooded shirts firing at another male. Following the fatal shooting, police presence was increased in the neighborhood. The Allegheny County District Attorney at the time, Stephen A. Zappala Jr., commented on the role of youth groups in recent violence and drug trade in the area.
In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, several people were questioned by the police, but no arrests were made in connection with the murder. The investigation into Eric Young's death was active, with law enforcement officials indicating they had narrowed their focus on potential suspects. A friend of Young's, an 18-year-old, was arrested on the evening of the murder after a police chase. Authorities believed he was in the neighborhood seeking revenge for Young's death. However, there have been no subsequent public announcements of any arrests or charges filed for the murder of Eric Young. The case is believed to have gone cold, leaving his killer or killers unidentified.
