PITTSBURGH — Authorities questioned a man Friday morning in connection to a shooting in Wilkinsburg that resulted in the deaths of six people, including an unborn baby, and left three others wounded, sources told Channel 11 News.
Lt. Kevin Kraus, of the Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office, said Friday that a man was arrested on a bench warrant for a probation violation. He was on Allegheny County’s Most Wanted list.
The man, identified as Cheron Shelton, was walked out of Allegheny County police headquarters in handcuffs about 9 a.m.%
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Cheron Shelton’s questioning came after two gunmen ambushed a cookout in the backyard of a home on Franklin Avenue on the night of March 9, according to authorities. One shooter with a .40-caliber handgun approached from an alley and began shooting, while another with an AK-47 assault-style rifle fired at partygoers as they attempted to run into the house.
Several children were inside when the deadly shots rang out.
Four women, including one who was eight months pregnant, and one man were killed. Two other men and one woman were wounded.
Officials identified those killed as Jerry Shelton, 35, Tina Shelton, 37, Brittany Powell, 27, Chanetta Powell, 25, and Shada Mahone, 26.%
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Jerry Shelton, Brittany Powell and Chanetta Powell were siblings. Their mother, Jessica Shelton, also lost two nieces in the shooting and another of her sons was among the wounded.
More than 40 shell casings were removed from the scene by officers.
Sources told Channel 11 News that Cheron Shelton, 29, is not related to the shooting victims with the same last name.
Cheron Shelton’s probation violation arrest was made after information was received that he was in Pittsburgh’s Lincoln-Lemington neighborhood, according to Kraus. A SWAT team was requested and he was taken into custody without incident.
Kraus said the arrest was made by the Sheriff’s Office in conjunction with the Western Pennsylvania Fugitive Task Force and the U.S. Marshal’s Office.
According to a criminal complaint obtained by Channel 11 News, three days after the deadly Wilkinsburg shooting, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and county police raided an apartment in Homewood.
A Colt model M4 carbine semi-automatic, a .22 semi-automatic rifle that contained Cheron Shelton's fingerprint, along with ammunition, a bag with more live rounds, a rifle scope, gun parts and a bulletproof vest, were all found inside the residence, the criminal complaint stated.
As a convicted felon, Cheron Shelton is not allowed to have a firearm. He is charged with illegal possession of a firearm and receiving stolen property.
According to the criminal complaint, the .22 semi-automatic rifle was reported stolen last June by its owner during a burglary in Uniontown, Fayette county.
Channel 11’s Rick Earle also learned that Cheron Shelton's girlfriend, Chanel Falls, and her father, Adrien Falls, are charged with hindering apprehension. Cheron Shelton was at their home when he was arrested Friday.
Cheron Shelton’s background
Earle discovered that Cheron Shelton has a lengthy criminal record that goes back a decade and includes mostly drug-related charges.
He was found guilty of possession of a controlled substance in January and driving on a suspended license. He was given probation.
A few weeks later, Cheron Shelton was arrested and charged with simple assault. He was jailed on $10,000 bail but released on Feb. 11, one month before the deadly Wilkinsburg shooting, when the judge agreed to reduced his bail to non-monetary.
Reaction from father of shooting victim
Michael Walker, the father of shooting victim Jerry Shelton, told Channel 11 News Friday that he does not recognize Cheron Shelton and it’s surprised that an arrest has yet to be made in the case.
“I'm not surprised there hasn't because of people being afraid to talk to police. I think that's the reason all of them aren’t' in custody because of that fact,” he said.
Walker said it’s frustrating because he’s tired of the rumors and street speculation about who the gunmen are. It’s time, he said, for those who have information to step forward.
“I understand there's a fear of speaking to the police or telling on someone, but if you know that person and you are directly in contact with that person, sit down and talk to that person. It's time to move on,” he said.
Walker said he doesn’t blame the police for the lack of an arrest.
“I think the community needs to look at law enforcement in a different way. They are not our enemies. These guys are out there working round the clock to resolve these issues,” he said.
Possible motive emerges
While no one has been charged in the case, multiple law enforcement sources told Channel 11 News Friday that the shooting may have been in retaliation for the murder of Calvin Doswell in 2013 in Lincoln-Lemington.
Sources told Earle that Lamont Powell, the name of one of the Wilkinsburg shooting victims who survived, surfaced in connection with the investigation into Doswell’s death. No one was ever charged in the case.
According to sources, the day after the Wilkinsburg shootings, Pittsburgh police met with county homicide detectives to discuss the Doswell investigation.
Powell was released from the hospital earlier this week but was then taken to jail accused of assaulting his sister’s boyfriend back in December, Earle reported. Online court dockets showed that he posted bail Friday.
Stay with Channel 11 News and WPXI.com for updates.