On March 16, 2024, at approximately 4:21 p.m., Pittsburgh police responded to reports of a shooting at the intersection of Penn Avenue and North Highland Avenue in East Liberty. Upon arrival, officers discovered 70-year-old Raymond Sims seated in the driver's seat of his vehicle, having sustained multiple gunshot wounds to the head and neck. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner's Office pronounced Sims dead at the scene.
Witnesses recounted that a male suspect, dressed entirely in black, approached the vehicle from the passenger side and fired several shots into the car before fleeing the area on foot. At the time of the shooting, Sims was operating his vehicle as a jitney—a local term for an unlicensed taxi service—with a passenger seated beside him. The passenger managed to escape unharmed but has not yet come forward to provide information to the authorities.
In the aftermath of the incident, Sims' family, particularly his son Raymond Freeman, expressed profound grief and a desire for justice. Freeman, who resides in Chicago, described his father as a kind-hearted individual who avoided unnecessary confrontations and was dedicated to his work as a jitney driver. He emphasized the close bond they shared, especially after the passing of Freeman's mother in 2010. The family has urged anyone with information to assist in bringing the perpetrator to justice.
As of now, no arrests have been made in connection with the homicide. Pittsburgh police are actively reviewing surveillance footage from the numerous cameras in the East Liberty area to identify and locate the suspect. The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities have appealed to the public for any information that could aid in solving the case.
