Two McKeesport residents were shot to death during a car chase before their vehicle rolled over a wooded hillside in the city, investigators said Friday.
Carlos Hudson, 41, and Jana Randolph, 49, were pronounced dead at the scene at Riverview Street on Thursday around 10:13 p.m. They died of gunshots to the head and their manner of death has been ruled a homicide, according to the Allegheny County Medical Examiner's office.
McKeesport Capt. of Detectives Tim Hanna said police received a report at 8:56 p.m. that four shots had been fired in the area of Riverview Street.
Allegheny County Homicide Lt. Andrew Schurman said Hudson and Randolph were cousins. They were traveling in a silver Toyota, reportedly chased by a dark-colored sedan, and gunshots were fired from the sedan to the Toyota.
Schurman said detectives are searching for the other vehicle involved in the chase and shooting, but couldn't provide a further description of that automobile or possible suspects.
“It would be fair to say drug activity is being looked at as a possible motive, as is robbery,” Schurman said.
The lieutenant said Randolph was a part-time jitney driver, but at the time of the incident was likely just hanging out with Hudson.
The Toyota was wedged into the hillside. The examiner's office said the crash did not have any impact on the occupants' deaths.
Police used a tow truck to pull the Toyota to the top of the hill on Thursday night.
McKeesport police intended to leave the car there until homicide detectives arrived, but a sudden, heavy rainfall made the scene too dangerous, Hanna said.
The initial investigation had to be shut down for about 10 minutes as a utility pole above the scene began shooting off blue sparks, then suddenly stopped.
“There was no way they were going to get down to it,” Hanna said.
Hudson's mother, Mae Hudson, told Trib Total Media news exchange partner WPXI-11 that her son was a father to seven children.
“If they had the gun they already intended to kill him or hurt him,” Mae Hudson said. “I want to know who killed my son. Why did you kill my son?”
The incident remains under investigation. Anyone with information should contact Allegheny County police at 412-473-1300 or McKeesport police at 412-675-5050.
Michael DiVittorio is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 412-664-9161, ext. 1965, or mdivittorio@tribweb.com.
