On September 8, 2023, 39-year-old JB "Ray" Brown of Farrell, Pennsylvania, was fatally shot outside an apartment building on Wallis Avenue near French Street. He was transported to Sharon Regional Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead from gunshot wounds.
Investigations led to the arrest of two individuals: 19-year-old Da’Ryan Allen and 24-year-old Marcedes McKelvey.
Allen was charged with murder, conspiracy to commit murder, discharge of a firearm into an occupied structure, recklessly endangering another person, and tampering with evidence. McKelvey, the mother of Brown's child, faced charges including murder, conspiracy solicitation of murder, conspiracy of murder, and endangering the welfare of children.
Court documents revealed that McKelvey had communicated with Allen prior to the shooting, indicating Brown's presence at her apartment and suggesting he use the back door. She later admitted to frequently joking about harming Brown, expressing surprise that Allen acted on it that day. Allen initially denied involvement but eventually claimed to have witnessed two unidentified men shoot Brown.
Mercer County District Attorney Peter Acker commended the efforts of the Farrell Police Department in the investigation and indicated that additional arrests were anticipated. Both Allen and McKelvey were held without bond, with court appearances scheduled for September 19, 2023.
Brown's death has deeply affected his family and the Farrell community. His father, John Brown, expressed profound grief and a desire for justice, emphasizing JB's love for his children and his service in the U.S. Air Force.
