On December 31, 2023, 44-year-old Lonnell "Nelly" Newkirk was fatally shot on the front porch of his residence in Pittsburgh's Carrick neighborhood. First responders arrived at the scene on Maytide Street around 8:45 p.m., finding Newkirk with a gunshot wound to the chest. He was transported to a local hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
In his final moments, Newkirk provided a crucial lead by repeatedly telling witnesses, "Ticc shot me."
Investigators determined that "Ticc" referred to 43-year-old Timothy Debold, known by that moniker on social media platforms. Surveillance footage revealed a 2020 Honda CRV, associated with Debold's girlfriend, circling the vicinity of Newkirk's home before the shooting. The vehicle was observed parking on Belplain Street, one block over, after which Debold allegedly approached Newkirk's residence, committed the shooting, and fled the scene in the same car. Traffic cameras inside both the Liberty Tunnel and Squirrel Hill Tunnel captured the vehicle traveling away from the crime scene shortly after the incident.
On January 9, 2024, Debold was apprehended by Pittsburgh Police Fugitive Apprehension Unit detectives and the U.S. Marshals Western Pennsylvania Fugitive Task Force on unrelated outstanding arrest warrants. Subsequently, he was charged with criminal homicide, burglary, carrying a firearm without a license, and persons not to possess firearms in connection with Newkirk's death. Debold is currently being held in the Allegheny County Jail awaiting further legal proceedings.
The investigation into the motive behind the shooting is ongoing, and authorities have not disclosed any additional details regarding the relationship between Newkirk and Debold. Community members in Carrick have expressed shock and sorrow over the incident, remembering Newkirk as a quiet yet lively individual with a warm heart, known for his creativity and love for hosting family gatherings. He is survived by his daughters, siblings, and a host of extended family and friends who continue to mourn his untimely passing.
