In what police described as a home invasion that turned deadly, 20-year-old Melvin Montel Johnson of Sheraden was shot and killed. The incident unfolded late on a Wednesday night in March 2010, inside an apartment in the 1000 block of Chartiers Avenue in Pittsburgh's Elliott neighborhood. Johnson, his face covered, reportedly forced his way into the residence with another man, Tyree Davis, 25, of Fairywood, with the intent to rob the occupants.
During the attempted robbery, both intruders were shot. Johnson sustained a fatal gunshot wound to the head and was pronounced dead at the scene. Davis was also struck in the head and torso and was transported to UPMC Mercy Hospital in critical condition. In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, the residents of the apartment fled. Investigators recovered several firearms from within the apartment, but no arrests were made in connection with the shooting of Johnson and Davis.
At the time of his death, Melvin Montel Johnson had a criminal record and was awaiting trial on felony charges for robbery and drug offenses from separate arrests in 2009. Court records indicated he was arrested for robbery, conspiracy, and corruption of minors. He also had a pending case for possession with intent to deliver and illegal possession of a firearm, as well as a prior guilty plea for criminal mischief and drunken driving. Police asked anyone with information regarding the shooting to contact the Homicide Squad.
