MCKEESPORT, Pa. — Target 11 Investigator Rick Earle has uncovered new information about the shooting death of a 58-year-old McKeesport man last Friday night.
According to multiple sources, Earle confirmed that the victim, Bob Moore, was working as a confidential informant for the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office.
Last year, according to multiple sources, Moore helped investigators bring down big cocaine, heroin and illegal sports gambling ring in McKeesport.
The investigation led to charges against seven people, including the alleged ring leader, Curtis Harper Jr. According to the criminal complaint, two confidential informants made multiple undercover controlled buys of cocaine. Sources tell Target 11 that Bob Moore was one of those confidential informants.
Harper appeared at a preliminary hearing this past Monday and all charges against him were held for court. It’s unclear if Moore was supposed to testify at that preliminary hearing.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE >>> Man dead after shooting in McKeesport; victim identified
Moore was gunned down while returning to his home last Friday just before 6 p.m.
A ShotSpotter gunshot detection device detected seven shots in the area of Park Street.
Police radio transmissions confirmed the activity.
“ShotSpotter, seven rounds….Park Street,” said the dispatcher, who minutes later added that she received a call that a male had been shot and was in need of medical attention.
Police have said very little about the murder, but Target 11 learned that Moore had been working as a confidential informant in an 11-month undercover investigation into illegal drugs and illegal sports gambling.
The Pennsylvania Attorney General’s office declined comment.
In addition to charges against Harper, drug charges were also filed against McKeesport Mayoral candidate Corry Sanders. Sanders has faced legal trouble in the past. In 2019, Governor Tom Wolf pardoned Sanders in a 1993 drug conviction that had prevented him from serving on McKeesport City council after he had won a seat.
In a post to social media earlier this year, Sanders denied the new drug charges.
“They have planted false narratives and lies about me because they feel threatened and challenged,” said Sanders.
Target 11 reached out to Sanders attorney about the death of the confidential informant.
“Mr. Sanders feels bad that another person lost his life in the town he wants to be Mayor. It’s sad,” said Sander’s attorney David Chontos.
Target 11 also reached out to Harper’s attorney, Wendy Williams.
Williams said Harper didn’t know Moore was a confidential informant and hadn’t talked to him in three months. She said he was shocked and saddened to learn Moore had been killed.
Minutes after Moore was shot and killed last Friday night, police, according to radio transmissions, apprehended a possible suspect who matched the description of the shooter.
But Allegheny County Police Assistant Superintendent Vic Joseph tells Target 11 that suspect was not connected to the homicide.
“It is an open and active investigation. I can’t release any details at this time,” said Joseph.
Multiple sources tell Target 11 that there’s enough evidence against the seven suspects in the drug case to proceed without the testimony of the confidential informant.
Target 11 reached out to Moore’s family but never heard back.
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