On a summer evening in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the life of 18-year-old Marteze Ward was tragically cut short. On July 31, 2009, in the Arlington Heights neighborhood, Ward was fatally shot in the chest. Shortly after the shooting, he was also struck by a vehicle. Responding officers discovered Ward unconscious at 3155 Cordell Place and he was subsequently transported to UPMC Mercy hospital. Despite medical efforts, he was pronounced dead at 10:27 p.m.
Marteze Ward, a Black male from the Bon Air neighborhood, was described by his sister as a 'bubbly' and 'outgoing' young man, the youngest of eight siblings. He had recently learned that his girlfriend was pregnant. On the very day of his death, he had been in court and pleaded guilty to a drug charge, receiving a sentence of nine months' probation. As a condition of his probation, he was required to complete his GED, and he had already enrolled in a program to do so. He was also scheduled to begin a new maintenance job at PNC Park.
In the wake of the shooting, Pittsburgh homicide detectives began an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Ward's death. At the time, police had not determined a motive for the slaying and did not comment on whether there was any connection between his court appearance and his death. As of November 2009, no charges had been filed in connection with the homicide. There have been no subsequent reports of arrests or suspects identified in the case.
