In a heartbreaking incident in Clairton, Pennsylvania, 13-year-old Chase Jones, a Black male, was fatally shot in a home on Wilson Avenue in January 2023. The tragedy unfolded while Jones and three other teenagers were playing video games in a third-floor bedroom.
According to witnesses in the room, 13-year-old Laquan Rich-Cabbagestalk was holding a gun when it discharged, striking Jones.
After the gunshot, Rich-Cabbagestalk was reportedly heard saying, 'I shot him,' and 'I'm sorry,' before fleeing the residence. First responders arrived at the scene around 9:30 p.m. and pronounced Jones dead. Police later located a handgun, which had been reported stolen, near the home.
Rich-Cabbagestalk surrendered to Allegheny County police the morning after the shooting. He was charged with criminal homicide and possession of a firearm by a minor. Initially, a judge set a nonmonetary bond for Rich-Cabbagestalk, which would have allowed for his release on electronic monitoring. However, this bond was later revoked, and he was taken to the Allegheny County Jail.
The community of Clairton was deeply affected by the incident, with friends and family remembering Chase Jones as a goofy, loving, and kind young man who brought smiles to everyone's faces. A vigil was held outside the home where he died, with community members, school officials, and the mayor of Clairton in attendance, who pleaded for an end to gun violence. As of early 2026, Rich-Cabbagestalk was reportedly awaiting trial on charges of possession of a stolen firearm and involuntary manslaughter. In the years following her son's death, Chase's mother, ShaDonna Johnson, has organized community Easter egg hunts in his memory to ensure he is not forgotten.
