Police lights at crime scene.
Police lights at crime scene. Stock-File Photo

New Kensington Man Charged With Murder in 2023 Shooting Death of Troy Vickers Jr.

Posted by
1 min read
March 12, 2026

NEW KENSINGTON, Pa. — A New Kensington man has been charged with criminal homicide in connection with the 2023 shooting death of Troy Vickers Jr., Westmoreland County District Attorney Nicole W. Ziccarelli announced.

Raijon Wilson, of New Kensington, is facing charges including criminal homicide, first-degree murder, possession of a firearm prohibited, and terroristic threats. Authorities said Wilson is currently incarcerated at the Westmoreland County Prison on unrelated charges.

The case stems from an incident on Oct. 19, 2023, when New Kensington police responded to the 1000 block of Kenneth Avenue for reports of an unresponsive man found on the front porch of a residence.

Officers identified the victim as Troy Vickers Jr., who was suffering from a gunshot wound to the head. Vickers was transported to a Pittsburgh-area hospital and placed on life support before being pronounced dead on Oct. 21, 2023. His death was later ruled a homicide.

Investigators determined that Vickers and Wilson had previously argued at a local bar several months before the shooting. Witnesses told detectives the two men had ongoing animosity and were involved in several altercations in the months leading up to the incident.

During the investigation, detectives reviewed surveillance footage showing Wilson driving through New Kensington streets before arriving near Kenneth Avenue. Video reportedly shows Wilson parking and walking toward the 1000 block of Kenneth Avenue around the time Vickers is believed to have been shot.

Within about three minutes, investigators said Wilson was seen returning to his vehicle and driving away.

Authorities also recovered motion-activated surveillance video with audio from a nearby intersection about 300 yards from the victim’s home. Detectives reviewing the footage reported hearing two gunshots around 10:49 a.m. on the day of the shooting.

Officials noted that Wilson has a prior felony conviction and is legally prohibited from possessing a firearm.

The investigation was conducted by New Kensington police and Westmoreland County detectives. The case will proceed through the Westmoreland County court system.

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.

Don't Miss

Exit mobile version