PITTSBURGH — The attorneys for the man on trial for the 2016 Wilkinsburg mass shooting claim a witness told them he was paid by prosecutors to provide fabricated information against suspect Cheron Shelton.
During a motions hearing Friday afternoon, defense attorney Randall McKinney told the judge the witness came forward Monday, the day the trial began.
McKinney claimed that witness was paid by the Allegheny County Police Department, Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to provide information on Shelton related to the March 2016 shooting during a barbecue on Franklin Avenue that killed five people and an unborn baby.
McKinney asked for a mistrial or for a hearing to be held on the witness’ allegations.
Judge Edward Borkowski denied both requests.
The witness, who has not been identified, was allegedly in the Allegheny County Jail at the same time as Shelton.
“He was told to get close to Mr. Shelton... and get Mr. Shelton to talk about the case and implicate himself,” McKinney said.
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Assistant District Attorney Kevin Chernosky told the judge the witness is not telling the truth and would not be called to testify.
McKinney also asked the court to allow the motion and a transcript of the interview his office conducted with the witness to be made public.
Borkowski ended the hearing by sealing the documents until the conclusion of the trial. The hearing happened after the jury was dismissed for the day.
The trial will resume Monday morning.
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