A call for help that went unanswered ultimately ended in tragedy for 33-year-old Ka'Sandra Wade, an African American mother from Pittsburgh. On New Year's Eve, a 911 call was made from her Larimer home, but the line disconnected after a commotion was heard. Two police officers responded to the 'unknown trouble' dispatch but left after speaking only to Wade's boyfriend, 51-year-old Anthony Brown, who assured them everything was fine and refused them entry into the residence.
Less than 24 hours later, on January 1, 2013, after her family was unable to reach her, police discovered Wade's body inside her home; she had been fatally shot. The investigation immediately led them to Anthony Brown. A standoff ensued at his North Point Breeze apartment, which lasted for several hours. Before the standoff ended, Brown confessed to killing Wade. The situation concluded when Brown took his own life.
The circumstances surrounding the 911 call and the police response prompted an internal investigation by the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police to determine if proper procedures were followed. In the wake of this tragic murder-suicide, community members and local officials called for a review of how law enforcement handles disconnected 911 calls and potential domestic violence situations. Friends and family remembered Wade while advocating for legislative changes, even proposing a 'Ka'Sandra's Law' to better protect individuals in similar situations.
