Pair Arrested Two Years After Fatal Bus Stop ShootingConfessions Given In Lawrenceville Cold Case InvestigationPOSTED: 1:31 pm EDT September 30,
2008 PITTSBURGH -- Pittsburgh homicide detectives arrest two people after the 2006 fatal shooting of a man waiting for a bus in the city's Lawrenceville neighborhood.On July 6, 2006, Michael Vaughns-Murray, 24, was shot in the neck at the corner of 44th and Butler streets. Pittsburgh police said a group of men approached Vaughns-Murray and demanded he hand over a gold chain he was wearing.Relatives thought the case would never be solved until they received information of two confessions and a ballistics report that linked a suspected shooter to the crime."After six or seven months, I figured it was never going to be solved unless it fell into their laps -- if they found the gun or if somebody confessed," said Eric Murray, the victim's father. "Just knowing that somebody is being held responsible makes it a lot easier."On Monday night, city homicide detectives arrested Christopher Moore, of the city's North Side, and Rashad Briscoe, whose address was unavailable.While the investigation didn't quite fall into the laps of police, cold case detectives picked up the case and the ballistics report came back linking Moore to the gun used in the crime. Detectives talked to both men, who police said confessed. Both men were charged with criminal homicide, according to court documents.Investigators said the robbery at the bus stop went bad and that Briscoe pointed the gun at Vaughns-Murray and fired, killing him. Paramedics resuscitated Vaughns on the way to UPMC Presbyterian."The detectives actually told me on my birthday. It was the best birthday present you could ever get," Murray said. "They told me they made two arrests and two of the guys signed a written confession. That was just the best news you could ever hope for."Moore and Briscoe remain held at the Allegheny County Jail. Briscoe has a criminal past that includes drugs and firearms charges, and Moore has a history of robbery charges.Vaughns-Murray worked in a pizza shop and had a daughter, Justice, who's now 5 and still talks about her dad. Related Links:
Copyright 2009 by ThePittsburghChannel. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. |
| ||||||||
   |
| |||||||
