On a Saturday night in September 2024, the community of McKees Rocks was shaken by a violent act that claimed the life of 34-year-old William Hopkins. In the late hours of September 14th, at approximately 10:38 p.m., police responded to reports of a shooting in the 300 block of Ella Street. Upon their arrival, first responders discovered Hopkins suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was quickly transported to a local hospital for medical attention.
Despite the efforts of medical professionals, William Hopkins succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the hospital. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner's Office later confirmed his identity. The investigation into the shooting was swiftly launched by Allegheny County police, who began to piece together the events that led to the fatal encounter.
Through their investigation, which included witness statements and a review of surveillance footage, detectives identified 28-year-old Richard Horne as the primary suspect in the shooting death of Hopkins. Less than a week after the incident, on Friday, September 20, 2024, law enforcement located and arrested Horne in the Hazelwood neighborhood of Pittsburgh. He was subsequently charged with criminal homicide and weapons violations in connection with Hopkins' death.
