PITTSBURGH (TCD) — A 21-year-old man reportedly confessed to fatally shooting his former neighbor after attempting but failing to kill him two other times.
On Sunday, Oct. 22, shortly before 4:30 p.m., the Pittsburgh Police Department responded to Stedman and Fontella streets and found a man in the driver’s seat of a car suffering from a gunshot wound to his head and shoulder. Medics transported the victim to the hospital, where he was later pronounced deceased.
The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review identified the victim as 29-year-old Joseph Sees Jr.
Police reportedly saw the victim’s parked car with its engine running and music still playing. A complaint obtained by the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review alleges that the window was open, and there was blood on the front passenger seat. Additionally, police noticed apparent bullet damage on the passenger door.
At the scene, investigators discovered a live 9 mm bullet and three 9 mm casings. According to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, police also found two jackets, one black and one black and gold, soaked in blood nearby.
According to an Oct. 25 news release from Pittsburgh Police, officers arrested Joshua Short on charges of criminal homicide, burglary, aggravated assault, and violation of firearms act in connection with the victim’s death. Police said he was also charged with theft by unlawful taking for stealing a car on the morning of Oct. 25.
The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports that Short was found in the back seat of a stolen black Mercedes-Benz. He initially seemed ready to flee but ended up cooperating with the police.
Short reportedly admitted to killing the victim and told police he used the 9 mm gun recovered at the scene.
According to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Short had tried to kill Sees, his former neighbor, two other times.
On Saturday, Oct. 21, Short reportedly tried to break into Sees’ home and shot at him when he opened the door but missed. Sees sustained a gunshot powder burn to his face, and his sweatshirt suffered damage.
Also on Oct. 21, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports that Short tried to place a ladder against Sees’ home to break in but fled after Sees called 911.
On Sunday, Oct. 22, Short allegedly found a 9 mm handgun in the abandoned house where he was living and drove a stolen Honda SUV to Sheffield Street. There, Short reportedly approached Sees’ parked car outside his home and shot him in the head.
According to the complaint obtained by the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Short told investigators that he and Sees had “ongoing issues.”
After shooting Sees, Short allegedly threw away his clothing between two nearby houses, drove around the North Side in his SUV, and parked at a Chateau brewery. Some of Short’s clothing, which included a black face mask, black Levi’s jeans, a black Carhartt knit hat, and rubber gloves, was later found.
Short reportedly returned to the crime scene 10 minutes after police arrived there.
Short was booked into the Allegheny County Jail without bail. He is set to appear in court for a preliminary hearing on Nov. 3.
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