MCKEES ROCKS, Pa. — Neighbors in McKees Rocks want the senseless violence to stop after another shooting happened shortly after a ceremony honoring a woman who died from gun violence.
“Nobody up here should have to live in fear,” said a mother who didn’t want to be identified because of that fear.
Some of the seemingly endless amount of gun violence has happened right outside her doorstep.
“My husband was almost shot when somebody shot through both my neighbor’s house and my own,” she said. “In October, there was a shooting directly behind my house while my children were outside. My kids are terrified.”
Four people were shot in that shooting on Oct. 26. Two of the four people died, including Dominique Smith, 38, a mother of six children.
“She was going to just help somebody, that’s it. Just going to go help somebody,” said Larry Ross, Smith’s uncle. “Just going to help someone like she always do. She was a staple in the community. Everybody knew her.”
Smith’s mother, Melanie Hines, said her daughter passed away from her injuries last week on Dec. 8.
“My daughter fought for 48 days,” Hines said. “She fought for 48 days, and she fought. She spoke to us and told us her wishes. She fought; she fought. I thought she was going to get better and come home.”
Hines said her daughter loved to cook and travel.
“She loved Jamaica,” she said. “The 8-year-old said, ‘My mom’s an angel now,’ and the youngest one said, ‘No mom is in Jamaica in a big ol’ swimming pool.’”
Smith’s family came together Saturday night, Dec. 14, honoring her life with a balloon release in front of her house on Etna Street.
A couple of hours later, neighbors said a group of kids got into a fight on the adjacent street on Ridge Way, several feet away from the memorial site. Moments later, gunshots rang out and witnesses said they saw a gray car speed off.
“I didn’t see who it was or anything, but you heard pop, pop, pop and just everybody running in all directions,” a neighbor said.
Allegheny County Police said a man was grazed by a bullet in the ear and neck in a house on nearby Gray Street. He’s expected to be okay, but neighbors are fed up with the senseless gun violence.
“There was enough adults outside that this was truly, entirely preventable,” a neighbor said. “The adults, I hate to say it, they need to step up. I understand a lot of them were raised in violence, so was I but at some point, you need to say enough is enough and we’re going to do better.”
There have been no arrests in Saturday night’s shooting.
As for October’s deadly shooting, county police said they believe they’ve identified everyone involved and are waiting on the district attorney to decide on charges.
Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts.
Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW