In the late afternoon of February 25, 2010, Sean Lavell David Murphy, a 40-year-old African American man from Penn Hills, was shot and killed while his vehicle was stopped at a traffic light in the Polish Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh. The incident occurred at the intersection of Paulowna Street and Bigelow Boulevard during rush hour.
Witnesses reported that a man approached Murphy's Cadillac Escalade and opened fire.
After being shot, Murphy's vehicle accelerated and struck the car in front of it, leading to a four-car pile-up. He was transported to UPMC Presbyterian hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 4:14 p.m.
At the time of his death, Murphy was facing an upcoming trial on drug-related charges. His criminal history included various charges over the preceding decade.
Police described the suspect as a Black male in his early 20s, approximately 5 feet 8 inches tall, and wearing dark clothing. After the shooting, the suspect was seen fleeing on foot down Paulowna Street toward Brereton Street, where he then got into a black car that quickly drove away.
As of late 2010, no arrests had been made in connection with the murder of Sean Murphy, and the investigation was reported to be ongoing. Online sources available do not provide any subsequent information on arrests, suspects, or convictions in the years that have followed.
