Police seek 2 men with Mon Valley ties in McKeesport homicide
Police on Thursday released names and photographs of two suspects wanted in connection with a deadly shooting in McKeesport.
Allegheny County police said arrests warrants were issued for Jonathan “BJ” Coles, 20, and Roman Jones, 23, related to Tuesday's shooting death of William Doyle, 24, of McKeesport, in Crawford Village. Doyle died of a perforating gunshot to the chest, according to the Allegheny County Medical Examiner's office.
Two women sustained what police said were non-life-threatening injuries in the incident, which occurred shortly before midnight.
Coles is from McKeesport and has ties to Clairton. He is described as black, 6 feet tall and weighs 240 pounds.
Jones is from Clairton and has ties to McKeesport. He is described as black, 6 feet tall and weighs 170 pounds.
Officials said the men could be charged with homicide, aggravated assault, attempted homicide, conspiracy and weapons violations.
“Both of them are extremely dangerous,” McKeesport police Assistant Chief Tom Greene said Thursday.
Police recommend the public call 911 immediately if they see either suspect. Both should be considered armed, police said.
Greene said the search for the suspects was going “slowly but surely” on Thursday.
The assistant chief said news coverage of the crime has been generating tips from the public.
“I can tell you we are getting calls,” Greene said.
Each of the suspects has a criminal history.
Coles was sentenced to 18 months of probation in Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas on Aug. 27 after an arrest on gun charges in McKeesport in July 2013.
Jones was arrested in McKeesport in August 2013 for carrying a firearm without a license and resisting arrest. He was found guilty on those charges in July and was paroled, according to court documents.
Anyone with information about the shooting or the suspects is asked to call Allegheny County homicide detectives at 412-473-1300. Callers can remain anonymous.
Eric Slagle is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 412-664-9161, ext. 1966, or eslagle@tribweb.com.
