‘He had the biggest smile ever’: Family remembers stabbing victim killed in McKeesport

PITTSBURGH — This is the story of a young man named Kai Brown. He only had 19 years to write this story, but his family will tell you that he did a lot in those 19 years. He just graduated from Brashear High School and celebrated a birthday in November. His dad says he loved music and wants his son to be remembered for his smile.

“He had the biggest smile ever,” said Anton Brown. “And that’s how I want him to be remembered, as the happy kid that he was.”

Kai Brown’s dad, Anton, described his son as happy and bighearted.

“He was an all-around good kid,” said Brown.

Brown says never in a million years would he have guessed his son’s life would have been cut short like this.

“I have to now live with the reality of my son’s gone,” said Brown.

On November 19, police showed up to the Midtown Plaza Apartments on Sinclair Street in McKeesport and found Brown unresponsive with a stab wound under his arm. He died at the hospital.

“To see him there and to kiss his forehead and it’s so cold,” said Brown. “I’ll never forget that. I will never forget that.”

Police arrested 15-year-old Damian Baverso and charged him with criminal homicide as well as terroristic threats. Kai’s girlfriend says Damian threatened to kill her, her unborn child and Kai. During a confrontation, Baverso pulled out a knife, stabbed Kai and ran away.

“I want him to really think about what he did and the person he took away,” said Brown. “I really want him to think about that because he took away a good person a good life. And that’s hard.”

Even harder, since Anton says he moved his son to Pittsburgh to get away from the violence in Chicago.

“Coming up in Chicago myself, I know how it is,” said Brown. “I didn’t want him to become a statistic of the Chicago streets so I brought him here for a better life.”

A life Anton wishes his son could get back.

“I miss him, and I love him,” said Brown. “I just miss him. I love him. I want my son back.”

Kai’s dad flew back to Chicago to start planning his son’s funeral. They currently can’t afford all the expenses. If you’re interested in helping Kai’s family, here’s a link to their GoFund Me page.

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