Wilkinsburg gunmen's possible target fights for life

One survivor of a backyard massacre in Wilkinsburg remained in critical condition after his second surgery Friday, said his mother, who added she resents suggestions he might have been the assassins' target.

“He's fighting. I'm praying he continues fighting,” said Jessica Shelton, 50, describing LaMont Powell, 24, who was badly wounded in the ambush Wednesday night that killed three of his siblings, including one who was pregnant, a cousin and a close family friend.

Prosecutors on Thursday said theories being investigated include whether the attack was motivated by drugs or retaliation, and whether LaMont Powell was the intended target. Authorities declined further comment Friday.

“However, such a theory would do little to explain the indiscriminate shooting and killing of the other victims,” said Mike Manko, a spokesman for District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala Jr.

Just before 11 p.m. Wednesday, at least two gunmen ambushed a barbecue and social gathering on Franklin Avenue. Six died.

Three other people were injured, including LaMont Powell.

Identities of the other two — including a man in critical condition and a woman who was treated and released — could not be confirmed.

Court records for LaMont Powell include some contact with law enforcement but no significant convictions.

In December, Pittsburgh police arrested and charged him with assault following an altercation involving an Indiana County man at his sister Chanetta Powell's Marshall-Shadeland residence. The case is listed as inactive. Chanetta Powell was killed in Wednesday's rampage.

The Homer City man who was involved in a custody dispute with Chanetta Powell over an 8-month-old girl said he hardly knew her brother or the rest of her family.

“I'm really scared of the whole thing. I don't want anybody coming after me,” said Daniel Coates, who told police LaMont Powell pointed a handgun at him before punching and kicking him in the face. “I don't know why that family got murdered like that. It's very sad.”

Jessica Shelton said LaMont Powell was sticking up for his sister.

Records show state police charged him with driving under the influence and possessing a small amount of marijuana in Washington County in December 2014. That case also is listed as inactive.

His Facebook page says he attended high school in New Castle and worked at Universal Electric Corp. in Canonsburg. A call to the company was not immediately returned. The page includes images of guns, drugs and large amounts of cash as well as photos of food, cars and members of his family.

Jessica Shelton said she resents her son being singled out as a possible target at this point.

“I don't know who was the target,” said Jessica Shelton, who works in guest services at Heinz Field. “Anybody could have been the mark. There were so many different people there.” About 15 people were in the yard when the shooting began.

The crossfire by gunmen using a .40-caliber handgun and an AK-47-style assault rifle killed Chanetta Powell, 25, and her unborn child; Jerry Shelton, 35; Tina Shelton, 37; Brittany Powell, 27; and Shada Mahone, 26.

Brittany Powell hosted the gathering. She, Jerry Shelton and Chanetta Powell were siblings and Jessica Shelton's children. Tina Shelton was a cousin.

Mass shooting experts told the Tribune-Review that it makes sense that someone was the primary target.

“Most mass killers target specific people for specific reasons, usually revenge in some variety,” said James Alan Fox, author of “Extreme Killing” and a criminologist at Northeastern University in Boston. “Sometimes others are killed who have nothing to do with the revenge, but they are linked to the primary target.”

Random mass shootings are rare, he said.

Frederic Lemieux of George Washington University agreed that mass shootings often fall on the spectrum of revenge. Until the shooters are caught, it is impossible to know why this killing happened, he said.

“We have a very important missing component,” said Lemieux, professor and director of Police Science and Security & Safety Leadership Programs at the Washington, D.C. university. “We have to know who the shooters are to understand the dynamic here.”

For now, Jessica Shelton said she will pray for her son's recovery while planning funerals for three adult children. She said he remains in critical condition at UPMC Mercy, Uptown, and has not regained consciousness.

Donations are being accepted through the Shelton-Powell Fund at Citizens Bank. A public memorial service will be held later, she said.

Wilkinsburg's South Avenue Methodist Church plans a meeting at 1 p.m. Saturday to talk about the tragedy and offer community support.

Strangers stopped at the Franklin Avenue house on Friday to pay respects.

That included a group of women who gather daily for a 7 a.m. prayer session at Allegheny Center Alliance Church.

“God just spoke and said we should come out here,” said Cathy Sigmund, a licensed chaplain with the North Side ministry. “God is calling us all together to pray for peace. It was evil that happened here. It was an act of hatred.”

Matt Heckel grew up around the corner and drove from his home in Penn, Westmoreland County.

“I just felt like I needed to come down here and say a prayer,” Heckel, 46, said. “I just needed to stop. It's too sad, too sad.”

Jessica Shelton said such support and that from others through Facebook and elsewhere has helped bolster her spirits.

“The world is showing me amazing love,” she said. “It makes me even stronger.”

NOTE: This story has been updated from the original to correct Matt Heckel's name.

Jason Cato and Megan Guza are Tribune-Review staff writers. Reach them at jcato@tribweb.com or mguza@tribweb.com.