John Keith West, Sr., a 54-year-old male, was tragically killed on August 13, 2024, in a residence on West 15th Avenue in Homestead, Pennsylvania. His life was cut short by gun violence in what was determined to be a double homicide. Found alongside him was 45-year-old Antoinette Porterfield. The discovery was made by first responders who were dispatched to the home after reports of shots being fired.
Upon their arrival, Homestead police received no answer from inside the residence and, believing a suspect might still be inside, called for the assistance of the Allegheny County SWAT team. Law enforcement breached the front door and deployed a drone for safety before entering, whereupon they found Mr. West and Ms. Porterfield deceased. The home was known to law enforcement, with reports of a recent domestic violence incident at the location. Neighbors also reported having seen a man behaving erratically in the weeks leading up to the fatal shootings.
The investigation quickly centered on John Malcom Smith, the 25-year-old son of Antoinette Porterfield. Allegheny County Police identified him as a person of interest and sought to question him in connection with the double homicide. Smith already had outstanding arrest warrants for burglary, simple assault, and probation violations. The day after the killings, Smith turned himself into the Pittsburgh Police.
Following his surrender, John Malcom Smith was charged with two counts of homicide for the deaths of his mother and John West. In October, a jury found Smith guilty on two counts of first-degree murder and one count of tampering with evidence. The trial revealed a history of a hostile relationship between Smith and his mother. In January 2026, he was sentenced to two consecutive life sentences in prison without the possibility of parole. During the sentencing, the profound loss and grief of both families were expressed, with Mr. West being remembered as a 'very kind and gentle soul.'
