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Washington police take three into custody in connection with shooting

3 min read
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From left, Shaquane Brucecome Yarbrough and Nasstylejah N. Wilkerson

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Shaquane Brucecome Yarbrough

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Nasstylejah N. Wilkerson

Washington police arrested two men, one from East Washington and the other from Pittsburgh, and plan to charge a 14-year-old East Washington boy in connection with a shooting Monday afternoon in the 10 block of Shannon Avenue.

Shaquane Brucecome Yarbrough, 20, of 22 Thayer Street, and Nasstylejah N. Wilkerson, 18, of Pittsburgh, along with 14-year-old Mason Fortunato, also of 22 Thayer, were taken into custody after a brief foot chase following the shooting. A fourth man was able to get away, but police are working on learning his identity, said police Chief Chris Luppino.

Shots were reported fired at a man and woman at Shannon and Oak Alley about 3 p.m. The two alleged victims had a 3-month-old girl with them. They were not hit by the gunfire, Luppino said.

After the shooting, the four ran off.

“We had some concerned citizens step up and tell us where the suspects went,” Luppino said. “The two victims also stayed and were cooperating with us.”

The four ran in the direction of Burton Avenue and were taken into custody near the Ambulance and Chair garage.

“We recovered two guns,” Luppino said. “A utility worker had seen them go behind a building and he used a metal detector to help us find the guns.”

“It was nice to get cooperation for a change,” he added. “That’s what it takes, residents and us working together.”

Wilkerson was also the reported victim in the July 31 shooting on Fayette Street. Luppino said his hand is still in a cast from injuries he suffered in the shooting. Wilkerson still has not identified who shot him, Luppino added.

Police are still investigating their suspected involvement in two other of the recent shootings.

Wilkerson pleaded guilty in April to charges of simple assault and terroristic threats after he reportedly pointed a gun and pistol-whipped a teenager in the West End last September. Wilkerson who was 17 at the time was charged as an adult. He also was arrested as an adult when as a 15-year-old, he along with several other teens reportedly robbed a pizza delivery driver at gunpoint in August 2012. Those charges were later transferred to juvenile court.

Yarbrough is on probation after pleading guilty to drug-related charges in December.

Yarbrough and Wilkerson both face charges including aggravated assault, reckless endangerment, firearms violations and receiving stolen property. They were both arraigned Monday night before District Judge David Mark and are lodged in Washington County jail on $100,000 bond.

Luppino said Fortunato was turned over to juvenile probation officers and faces similar charges in a juvenile allegation that will be filed against him.

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