Four formally arraigned in Washington girl’s death
Four men accused in the shooting death of a 10-year-old Washington girl were formally arraigned Tuesday.
Anthian Goehring, 28, Douglas Cochran Jr., 18, Malik Thomas, 20, and Richard White, 18, all of Washington, were arraigned before visiting Allegheny County Judge Edward Borkowski in the Washington County Courthouse. Cochran, who is being housed in Allegheny County jail, was arraigned via video conference.
Borkowski offered to preside over the case for Washington County, according to President Judge Debbie O’Dell Seneca.
The men are charged with criminal homicide, robbery, theft and burglary. Goehring also is charged with discharge of a firearm into an occupied structure, person not to possess a firearm and reckless endangerment. Cochran also is charged with reckless endangerment.
Ta’Niyah Thomas was shot inside her family’s 450 W. Chestnut St. apartment in March and died a short time later at Washington Hospital. Investigators said robbery was the motive.
Police allege Goehring and Cochran kicked in the main door of the apartment building, approached the second-floor apartment and fired multiple shots through the door. Ta’Niyah was asleep when the initial shots were fired. She apparently heard the gunfire and was running from her bedroom to get to her mother when she was hit by two bullets.
First Assistant District Attorney Chad Schneider said the prosecution will not seek the death penalty in this case.
Family members, including Ta’Niyah’s mother, Shantye Brown, were present in the courtroom. Brown proudly displayed a memorial tattoo dedicated to her daughter as Goehring, Thomas and White were escorted into the courthouse.
A trial date has not been scheduled. All four men are being held without bond.