Man faces trial for California slaying
WASHINGTON, Pa. – A 19-year-old Monessen man will stand trial for allegedly shooting and killing a man at a party in California earlier this month. State police Trooper Craig Yauch said Keith Edward Jones, 19, was charged with criminal homicide, two counts of aggravated assault, carrying a firearm without a license, discharging a firearm into an occupied structure and recklessly endangering another person in the shooting death of Jeron Xavier Grayson, 18, of Pittsburgh.
Police said the charges were filed after Jones fired multiple rounds from a handgun into an occupied residence around 2 a.m. Oct. 17, striking and killing Grayson.
Following a preliminary hearing Wednesday morning at the Washington County Courthouse, all charges against Jones were held for court except for a single count of aggravated assault after prosecutors withdrew it.
Yauch testified that Grayson died from a single gunshot wound to the chest that punctured both lungs and his aorta.
The manner of death has been ruled a homicide.
Police said Grayson was among 100 people reportedly packed inside Apartment F at 264 Mechanic St. for a party to celebrate homecoming at California University of Pennsylvania. The apartment building is less than one-half mile from campus.
Yauch testified that Jones and some friends traveled to California in search of a homecoming party to attend and found the party being held on Mechanic Street.
Jones and another man accompanying him entered the party. A person inside confronted the man with Jones regarding an unrelated issue, Yauch testified.
A struggle between the men ensued and during the fight, Yauch testified that Jones’ friend was struck in the head with a beer bottle.
Jones admitted to investigators that he then fired a warning shot into the ceiling before being forced out the door of the residence. Jones then fired five more rounds into the apartment, Yauch testified.
Police said that a California police officer heard the shots and responded to the scene. He spotted Jones seated in the rear of a car parked nearby.
Yauch testified Wednesday that officers had Jones place his hands on a vehicle while they were continuing to assess the scene and, while their attention was diverted, Jones fled.
Yauch testified that multiple witnesses were able to identify Jones as the gunman.
Defense attorney James M. Ecker interrupted court proceedings during Yauch’s testimony to request tissues for his client, who he said was crying throughout the hearing.
Following Yauch’s testimony, Ecker told the court that it was evident that a basis for the charge of homicide had been established and declined to offer a closing argument.
Jones remains in the Washington County Prison without bond.
After the hearing concluded, Jones’ father, Keith Jones Sr., approached Grayson’s father, the Rev. Glenn Grayson, a minister in Pittsburgh, and the two men, who have reached out to one another since the shooting, embraced in a tearful hug.
No one else at the party was struck by the gunfire, however, police said that California University student Ashley Jordan Gill was injured by flying shrapnel.
Another unidentified student was injured while jumping out a rear window of the residence, police said.
Both were treated at Monongahela Valley Hospital in Carroll Township.
Grayson was a standout football player at Schenley High School in Pittsburgh.
He was a freshman at Hampton University in Virginia and was visiting with friends at the party when the shooting occurred.
After the hearing, Ecker expounded on something he alluded to during the hearing regarding Jones’ mental capacity.
“He has been determined to be mentally retarded since the age of 7,” Ecker said, noting that Jones also suffered from attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder.
He also said that Jones has been remorseful and cooperative with police since they took him into custody about 15 hours after the shooting.
Yauch agreed that Jones has been remorseful and cooperative but said that Jones’ mental capacity never appeared to be diminished during interviews with police and prosecutors noted that he had been attending community college prior to the shooting.