On a Thursday evening in September 2023, 25-year-old Danasia Lighty had just returned home from work and was sitting in her car in Pittsburgh's Brighton Heights neighborhood. The night was shattered by the sound of gunfire, and when first responders arrived at the scene on Fleming Avenue, they found Danasia inside her vehicle with multiple gunshot wounds.
The initial alert came from a ShotSpotter notification, which detected 12 rounds fired in the area just before 11 p.m.
Emergency crews, including firefighters and medics, quickly rendered aid to Danasia before rushing her to a local hospital. She was listed in very critical condition upon arrival. Despite the efforts of medical personnel, Danasia succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced dead at the hospital. Her mother, Angel Lighty, described her daughter as a playful and loving person who was cherished by everyone who knew her.
The preliminary investigation by Pittsburgh police suggested that the shooting was a targeted act. It is believed that a single suspect approached Danasia's vehicle on foot, opened fire, and then fled the scene. In the immediate aftermath, law enforcement officials indicated that another shooting in the area, which left a man with a leg injury, could possibly be related, though the connection was not definitively established.
In the days and weeks that followed, Danasia's family pleaded with the public for any information that could lead to an arrest. They urged residents in the neighborhood to check their security cameras for any footage that might have captured the suspect or the events leading up to the shooting. As of late 2023, no arrests have been made in connection with the murder of Danasia Lighty, and the investigation remains ongoing.
