On August 27, 2023, at approximately 11 p.m., an Allegheny County Housing Authority officer in Braddock, Pennsylvania, heard multiple gunshots near Margaretta and Center streets. Upon arrival, the officer discovered two 17-year-old males, identified as Nazir Parker and Rimel Williamson, deceased on Center Street from gunshot wounds. A third male, 16-year-old Jerell Rockymore, was found inside a nearby residence with gunshot wounds to his chest and buttocks; he was transported to a hospital in critical but stable condition.
Parker and Williamson were both seniors at Woodland Hills High School, having just begun their final year. Their deaths prompted an outpouring of grief from the community, with hundreds attending vigils to honor their memories. Family members, friends, and local leaders, including U.S. Senator John Fetterman, gathered to mourn the loss and call for an end to the violence affecting their community.
In the course of the investigation, authorities examined surveillance footage and cellphone records, which led them to identify Rockymore as a suspect in the shootings. On September 20, 2023, Rockymore was arrested by the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force in Pittsburgh. He was charged with criminal homicide, receiving stolen property, and illegal possession of a firearm.
Further investigation revealed that Rockymore had been in the company of 15-year-old Mohamed Hussein on the night of the shootings. Surveillance footage showed them handling multiple handguns together. Hussein was later found near the crime scene and was identified as being present during the incident. Tragically, on September 19, 2023, Hussein was fatally shot in Pittsburgh's Allentown neighborhood. Authorities have acknowledged his connection to the Braddock shooting but have not confirmed any direct involvement in the deaths of Parker and Williamson.
The deaths of Parker and Williamson have deeply affected the Braddock community, leading to calls for increased efforts to address and prevent youth violence. Community leaders and organizations have emphasized the need for proactive measures to ensure the safety and well-being of young people in the area.
