DUQUESNE, PA – A seventeen-year-old will be charged as an adult for the murder of a 14-year-old girl who was a passenger in a vehicle shot and killed in Duquesne.
On September 2, at 5:13 p.m., officers of the Duquesne Police Department responded to a call for a shooting in the 700 block of Priscilla Avenue. First responders found a female victim shot. The victim died at the scene, and officers of the Duquesne Police Department requested the assistance of the county police.
“County Police Homicide detectives initiated an investigation and learned that the deceased victim, 14-year-old Lajaponis Roberts, was the passenger of a burgundy-colored Chevrolet Cruze when the shooting occurred. The driver abandoned the vehicle and fled the scene. Detectives continued their investigation, and as a typical response to increased gun violence, the county police deployed a team of Violent Crimes and Firearms (VCF) detectives to focus their attention on the area,” police said.
On Wednesday, at about 1:45 p.m., VCF detectives observed three juveniles at the intersection of Auriles Street and Priscilla Avenue.
“Two of the three juveniles were observed to be in possession of firearms, and all three juveniles ran away from detectives as they approached and identified themselves as police. Detectives gave chase, and one of the armed juveniles, 17-year-old Justice Hayden of Duquesne, pointed his firearm at detectives,” police said. “Hayden attempted to discard the firearm just before being apprehended. The firearm, a 9mm privately manufactured firearm with a high-capacity magazine, was recovered by detectives. An exhaustive search was made for the other juveniles with the assistance of Allegheny County Sheriff deputies, Duquesne, Homestead, Whitaker, and Allegheny County Housing Authority police officers.”
After consulting with the District Attorney’s Office, it was determined that Hayden will be charged as an adult for aggravated assault and firearms-related offenses. Hayden will be transported to the Allegheny County Jail for arraignment. A mugshot is not currently available.
Anyone with information concerning this incident is asked to call the Allegheny County Police Tipline at 1-833-ALL-TIPS (1-833-255-8477); callers can remain anonymous. The department can also be reached via its social media sites.