On March 30, 2024, 30-year-old LaMont "Cricket" Nichols was fatally shot in Duquesne, Pennsylvania. The incident occurred around 6:12 p.m. at the Harry S. Truman Apartments on North Second Street. Upon arrival, police found Nichols with a gunshot wound to the chest; he was pronounced dead at the scene.
The altercation began when Nichols and a woman named Tamika Warrick arrived at Warrick's apartment, where two other women, Latiya Hicks, 24, of Braddock, and Kisstamin Davis, were present. Warrick asked Hicks to leave due to prior issues, leading to an argument. Nichols intervened, supporting Warrick's request for Hicks and Davis to leave. During the confrontation, Hicks drew a 9mm handgun and shot Nichols as he approached her. Surveillance footage corroborated these events, showing Hicks standing in the apartment doorway and firing the weapon. Notably, Hicks had a clear path to exit the apartment but chose to shoot instead.
Following the shooting, Hicks remained at the scene and admitted to the responding officers that she had shot Nichols. She was arrested and charged with criminal homicide. Records indicate that Hicks legally purchased the firearm in June 2023. She was arraigned and held without bail at the Allegheny County Jail, with a preliminary hearing scheduled for April 12, 2024.
The incident has drawn attention to the ongoing issue of gun violence in the region, prompting discussions about community safety and the factors leading to such tragedies. Friends and family mourn the loss of Nichols, remembering him through online memorials and tributes.
Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting. Anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact the Allegheny County Police Department's tip line at 1-833-ALL-TIPS. Community cooperation remains vital in addressing and preventing such acts of violence.
