Uniontown man arraigned on homicide charges in fatal shooting
A Uniontown man who is charged with homicide called 911 at about midnight Friday to say he had just shot his friend who was trying to rob him, officials said.
Jamaal Rishal Fitzgerald, 23, said in the call that he did not know whether Seth Lowry was breathing or alive, according to court documents.
Uniontown police found Lowry, 27, dead in Crow Alley behind the 187 North Gallatin Avenue apartment with multiple gunshot wounds, according to police. The Fayette County Coroner’s Office said an autopsy would be performed Friday.
Fitzgerald surrendered peacefully when police arrived. He told them he was sitting on the steps when Lowry, also of Uniontown, pulled up in his vehicle and punched him. Fitzgerald declined to speak to police further during an interview and asked for an attorney.
Fitzgerald’s fiancee, Bobbi Jo Cumberland, told police they were getting ready to take a shower when Lowry called Fitzgerald wanting to buy marijuana.
She told police she heard four or five gunshots and opened the door. Fitzgerald ran up the steps “distraught” saying to call police and his dad. Fitzgerald told dispatchers Lowry had a gun and attempted to rob him, according to paperwork filed in the case.
He told dispatchers a gun was on the couch in his apartment. City police found a .40-caliber Glock pistol with an extended magazine on the couch. The gun had a 22-round capacity with 12 rounds remaining, the affidavit said.
Police confirmed the Glock belonged to Fitzgerald.
A second gun was also found in the apartment, in addition to a pair of shorts with suspected marijuana in the pocket, according to the affidavit.
Police reviewed footage from a police camera in the patrol vehicle, in which Fitzgerald spoke to himself saying “Didn’t mean to hurt nobody,” “What did I do?” “Wake up. Has to be a dream,” “Please forgive me,” and “I love you. I’m sorry Mom.”
Fitzgerald sniffled as Magisterial District Judge Michael Metros read the description of his charges during his arraignment Friday morning.
He struggled to speak when the judge asked if he had any questions.
“The criminal homicide, would I have to, like, plan ahead before the murder?” Fitzgerald asked.
Metros told him premeditation is not a requirement to file a criminal homicide charge.
Fitzgerald fidgeted for a moment after the arraignment, then resignedly laid his head on his folded arms on the table.
He was denied bail in the case.
Fitzgerald is charged with criminal homicide, possession with intent to deliver, possession of a weapon and two counts of aggravated assault.