Hearing again postponed for teen charged in drive-by that preceded Antown Rose shooting

A preliminary hearing has again been postponed for Zaijuan Hester, the teen charged in the drive-by shooting that preceded the police shooting of Antwon Rose.

Hester, 17, of Swissvale is charged with attempted homicide and aggravated assault.

His preliminary hearing was set for Friday but was postponed to Aug. 24. The Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office requested the postponement because of scheduling issues with witnesses, said Mike Manko, spokesman for the office.

The hearing was originally set for July 6 but was postponed at the request of Hester’s defense attorney.

Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala Jr. said Hester, not Rose, fired the shots in the June 19 drive-by shooting in North Braddock. A 22-year-old man wounded in that shooting was treated and released from a hospital for a graze wound to the abdomen.

Moments later, East Pittsburgh officer Michael Rosfeld stopped a car believed involved in the drive-by shooting. During the stop, Rose and Hester ran from the car. Rosfeld shot Rose in the back, elbow and face, killing him.

Rose, 17, was unarmed but had an empty handgun magazine in his pocket. Hester got away and was arrested nearly a week later.

Rosfeld, who faces criminal homicide charges, waived a preliminary hearing that was scheduled for Friday. A formal arraignment is scheduled for Aug. 22.

Theresa Clift is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Theresa at 412-380-5669, tclift@tribweb.com or via Twitter @tclift.