On March 1, 2023, at approximately 12:08 p.m., first responders were dispatched to the 3100 block of Versailles Avenue in McKeesport, Pennsylvania, following reports of a shooting. Upon arrival, they discovered 47-year-old Robert Joyner, a Pittsburgh resident, suffering from a gunshot wound to the head. Joyner was promptly transported to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 1:27 p.m.
The investigation into Joyner's death remained active for several months.
In October 2023, authorities arrested 18-year-old McKeesport resident, Sanchez Spence, charging him with criminal homicide in connection with the shooting. Key evidence leading to Spence's arrest included surveillance footage and a cellphone recovered at the crime scene. Notably, Spence's iPhone was found in a side yard near the location of the shooting, and video footage captured him firing a weapon and fleeing the scene. Additional surveillance footage showed Spence and two other individuals changing clothes after the incident, further implicating him in the crime.
Spence was taken into custody and is currently held in the Allegheny County Jail without bail. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for October 27, 2023. The investigation into the involvement of other individuals present during the shooting is ongoing, as authorities work to determine their roles in the incident.
This tragic event was one of two fatal shootings in McKeesport on March 1, 2023. The second incident occurred near the No. 50 building in the Crawford Village housing complex around 1 p.m., resulting in the deaths of 22-year-old Jerred Duncan and 30-year-old Jordan Eubanks. An 18-year-old, identified as Davon Flewellen-Belton, was arrested on weapons charges related to the second shooting. Authorities have stated that the two shootings are not connected.
The arrest of Spence brings a measure of progress in the pursuit of justice for Robert Joyner's family. However, the community continues to grapple with the broader issue of gun violence, underscoring the need for ongoing efforts to address and prevent such tragedies.
