In the early morning hours of September 14, 2024, a single gunshot shattered the quiet of the Crawford Village housing complex in McKeesport, Pennsylvania. Inside one of the apartments, 51-year-old Tammy E. Lee Cox had been shot. A 911 call was placed at 5:06 a.m. by her husband, 50-year-old Robert Cox. In his initial report to dispatchers, he claimed that his wife had been struck by gunfire coming from outside their home.
When McKeesport police officers arrived at the scene just four
minutes later, Robert Cox met them at the door with a different story, alleging that his wife had shot herself. However, before she succumbed to her injuries, Tammy Cox was able to tell the responding officers that it was her husband who had shot her. She was rushed to UPMC McKeesport hospital with gunshot wounds to her upper chest and back, but tragically died at 6:17 a.m.
During a protective sweep of the apartment, authorities found a shotgun and two handguns in plain view. Further investigation revealed security camera footage from the complex that captured the sound of a single gunshot at 5:05 a.m., corroborating the timeline of events.
Based on the evidence and his wife's dying declaration, Robert Cox was arrested and charged with criminal homicide. He was taken into custody and is being held at the Allegheny County Jail without bail. Robert and Tammy had been married since December 31, 2011. A preliminary hearing for Robert Cox was scheduled for September 27, 2024.
