A West Mifflin man was ordered held for court Friday on a charge of criminal homicide, stemming from the shooting death of a North Side man last month.
Deputy Coroner Timothy Uhrich ordered James N. Freeman, 20, of East Midway Drive, to stand trial in the death of Kevin Coates, 17, of Brightridge Street. Coates was shot July 19 during a turf battle between members of rival neighborhoods, authorities said.
Maurice Ford, 14, a passenger in Freeman's car, testified yesterday that Freeman accidentally shot him and then apologized profusely. Freeman has not been charged in that shooting.
The incident occurred after Coates accosted Ford when Freeman stopped to talk with Coates and his acquaintances, according to testimony. Freeman drove away, retrieved his gun from the trunk of his car and then went looking for Coates.
Coates opened fire on Freeman's car near the corner of Melrose and Irvin streets on the North Side, according to testimony. Freeman returned fire and shot Coates twice in the heart and wounded Ford.
No trial date has been set.
