On a late Monday evening in Pittsburgh's Hill District, the sound of eleven gunshots pierced the night, marking a violent end to the life of 37-year-old Jawan Montae Palmer. It was September 11, 2023, when city police responded to a ShotSpotter notification in the 2200 block of Webster Avenue just before 11 p.m. and discovered a grim scene. Another man, Dean Marbury, 43, was found at the location with fatal gunshot wounds to his head and neck.
Palmer, gravely wounded, was transported by
private means to a local hospital, but he ultimately succumbed to his injuries. A third individual was also wounded in the incident and arrived at the hospital in critical condition. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner's office later confirmed the identities of both deceased men as Palmer and Marbury, both residents of Pittsburgh.
The investigation into the double homicide revealed a contentious history between the two men. Just a month prior, in August, an altercation had occurred at Jay's Lounge on Webster Avenue, where Palmer was working as a security guard. During that incident, Dean Marbury was involved in a shootout after being escorted out of the establishment. Marbury had allegedly argued with the guards, and when he reached for his waistband, one of the guards fired. Marbury returned fire, injuring bystanders and two guards, one of whom was Jawan Palmer.
Following the August shooting, Marbury was arrested but was later released on bond. Palmer's family believes that Marbury sought retaliation upon his release. This belief is compounded by the fact that both men were killed in the September 11th shooting. Palmer's loved ones remember him as a father to two daughters and a stepfather, a religious man who was well-loved and stood for his community. His family expressed their profound grief and frustration, stating that his death could have been avoided if the justice system had kept Marbury in custody. The investigation into the shooting remains ongoing, though the primary suspect in Palmer's death, Dean Marbury, was killed during the same event.
