Mystery continues to surround Hill District slaying

A Hill District woman who died in a spray of bullets told family members she was involved in a criminal investigation but didn't mention any danger, her sister said on Tuesday.

Tamara Crawford, 25, said her sister, Tina, recently moved back to her mother's house and was preparing to begin work on a master's degree in criminology. Three gunmen fired at least 20 shots at Tina Crawford and her mother, Patsy Crawford, in the entrance to the basement garage of their home on Cherokee Street. Tina Crawford, 34, died, and her mother, 63, was wounded.

“She didn't express any danger to my mother and I. My mother and I really didn't know anything about it. We thought she was fine,” Tamara Crawford said. She said Tina may have talked to other people about the investigation but not her family, possibly to keep them from worrying about her.

“She didn't want us to be involved. She kept to herself.”

Patsy Crawford remained hospitalized on Tuesday, public safety spokeswoman Sonya Toler said. Toler declined comment on the investigation into the shooting.

The Tribune-Review asked Attorney General's Office spokeswoman Renee Martin, who was in Pittsburgh on Tuesday morning for an event, whether Tina Crawford's death affected one of the office's cases. She said only: “We are working together to catch the killer, and that's the priority. So right now, that's the only statement we have at this time.”

A prosecutor with the state Office of Attorney General this week dropped charges against a Mt. Washington man prosecutors had called an “upper-level” heroin dealer.

Senior Deputy Attorney General Mark Serge filed a motion asking that a judge drop the charges of corrupt organization, conspiracy, delivery of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and possession of a firearm against Price Montgomery, 34, of Mt. Washington. Serge did not give a reason in the motion and didn't return a message seeking comment.

Paul Boas, identified in online court records as the attorney representing Montgomery, also did not return messages.

The records indicate Montgomery posted a $125,000 bond on June 9.

J.J. Abbott and other representatives of the Attorney General's Office would not discuss Montgomery or the status of the case against co-defendant James Perrin, 35.

Fred Rabner, who represented Perrin during a preliminary hearing, said the man did not retain him. There is no record of another attorney for Perrin.

Perrin posted a $185,000 bond June 12 but failed to appear for formal arraignment Aug. 6, court records show. A judge revoked his bond and issued a bench warrant for his arrest Aug. 15.

The Attorney General's Office announced the charges in June against Montgomery and Perrin, calling them “upper-level heroin dealers” in a press release. Investigators seized 1,500 bricks of heroin, 16 firearms, more than $100,000 in cash and jewelry, two luxury vehicles and Cuban cigars when they searched Montgomery's home in the 400 block of William Street on June 8.

Tamara Crawford said she only wants police to solve her sister's killing.

“My sister was a very, very good person. There was no reason for her to be shot and killed,” she said.

“The way people can help me is if you saw anything, please let the police know. The calls can remain anonymous.”

Margaret Harding and Michael Hasch are staff writers for Trib Total Media. Harding can be reached at 412-380-8519 or mharding@tribweb.com. Hasch can be reached at 412-320-7820 or mhasch@tribweb.com.