On a busy Monday afternoon in Pittsburgh's Banksville neighborhood, the lives of two men tragically intersected, leaving one dead and the other facing a homicide charge. Richard 'Ricky' William Derkach, a 34-year-old male, was fatally shot during a rush-hour encounter on March 13, 2023. The incident, which unfolded near the intersection of Banksville Road and Crane Avenue, was captured by a city-operated surveillance camera, providing a chilling account of Derkach's final moments.
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footage showed a silver pickup truck, driven by 23-year-old Connor Cusick Makstutis, stopped at the intersection. Behind him, Richard Derkach pulled over in his dark-colored minivan. Derkach then exited his vehicle and approached the driver's side of Makstutis's truck. After a brief exchange, Derkach was seen recoiling and stumbling back toward his own vehicle, clutching his chest. He had been shot. Emergency services transported Derkach to a local hospital, but he succumbed to a gunshot wound to the chest shortly after arrival.
In the immediate aftermath, Connor Makstutis did not flee. Instead, he drove to Pittsburgh police headquarters and turned himself in. He was arrested and charged with criminal homicide. Investigators found a firearm in his truck, for which he had a valid concealed carry permit. Makstutis was subsequently held in the Allegheny County Jail without bail. The motive initially appeared unclear, with authorities not immediately disclosing if the two men had known each other prior to the deadly confrontation.
As the case proceeded to trial, a more complex narrative emerged. The courtroom proceedings revealed that this was not a random act of road rage. The defense argued that Makstutis had acted in self-defense, alleging a history of harassment and threats from Derkach. Defense attorney Lee Rothman claimed that Derkach had been badgering and threatening Makstutis and his family for months. This history of conflict, the defense contended, culminated in the fatal shooting on Banksville Road, where Makstutis feared for his life when Derkach approached his vehicle. The prosecution, however, pointed to the video evidence showing Derkach was unarmed. After hearing both sides, a jury deliberated and ultimately acquitted Connor Makstutis of the homicide charge.
