Man heading to trial for deadly shooting outside Monroeville Mall

MONROEVILLE, Pa. — A man is heading to trial for the shooting death of another man outside the Monroeville Mall in October.

Lawrence Murphy, 20, is accused of shooting Saheed Gayle, 20, on Oct. 7 after an argument that started inside the mall. Gayle was taken to a hospital, where he died.

>>PREVIOUS STORY: Argument leads to deadly shooting at Monroeville Mall

Murphy is charged with criminal homicide and firearms not to be carried without a license. Those charges were held for court Friday during a preliminary hearing.

Surveillance footage, cellphone video and 911 calls were introduced during the hearing.

Police said surveillance footage shows the two men and an unidentified woman getting into an argument while leaving the mall. Witnesses heard a gunshot and Gayle collapsed.

Murphy was seen driving away in a maroon car.

Investigators believe Murphy and Gayle knew each other and the shooting was targeted.

Theresa Kallon, Gayle’s mother, previously told Channel 11 News her son was working at the mall on the day of the shooting.

>>RELATED STORY: ‘He had potential:’ Mother of man shot, killed at Monroeville Mall wonders what led to her son’s death

Murphy’s attorney, Casey White, maintained his client’s innocence on Friday. He argued that cameras never captured the shooting, and footage never directly shows Murphy committing the act.

“The camera angle unfortunately does not show what happens. So, the camera angle is behind a pillar that blocks the view of the most important part of the case of what takes place between the deceased, the unknown female and whom they believe is my client -- Mr. Murphy,” White said.

Murphy is in the Allegheny County Jail, unable to post bond. He will go before a judge in January for his formal arraignment.

Mother of man shot, killed at Monroeville Mall wonders what led to her son’s death

Cox Media Group