One suspect arrested in Uniontown homicide
Alyssa Choiniere | Herald-Standard
In this May 22 file photo, Uniontown City Police investigate the death of Richard Hinton, 28, of Uniontown, who was fatally shot in a Dunlap Street apartment. Tyree Smith, 22, of Penn Hills was held for court on criminal homicide and related charges Wednesday.
Smith
Alyssa Choiniere | Herald-Standard
Richard Hinton, 28, of Uniontown was shot and killed at a Dunlap Street home in the city late Tuesday. Tyree Jamal Smith, 22, of Allegheny County has been charged in the killing. Police are also looking for a second suspect.
An alleged shooter was arrested and police are working to identify a second person present during the homicide of a 28-year-old man in a Uniontown apartment Tuesday night.
Tyree “Brick” Smith, 22, of Crescent Drive in Penn Hills allegedly shot Richard Hinton of Uniontown in the face, then stood over his body and shot him two more times at 72 Dunlap St. He was arrested by New Brighton Area Police Department in Beaver County Wednesday afternoon, officials said.
Police are working to identify a second person who was present at the time of the killing and fled out the back door with Smith. Two children who lived in the apartment, ages 11 and 14, witnessed the shooting, according to police.
Uniontown City Police arrived at about 9:30 p.m. and found Hinton dead in a hallway after a 911 caller reported someone shot “Rick.”
Police talked to one of the juvenile witnesses, who told police he was sleeping when he awoke to “Brick” and another man passing a revolver back and forth.
“If someone runs up in here, we’re gonna blast them,” Smith was quoted as saying in the affidavit of probable cause filed in his case.
Moments later, Hinton, who lives in the apartment occasionally, came upstairs. He and Smith began arguing, court paperwork said. Smith allegedly shot Hinton, stood over him in the hallway and fired another round into his body and a third round down the stairs. Smith allegedly fired another round into Hinton, then ran out the back door with the second suspect.
The second person is described as a black male, approximately 5-feet, 8-inches tall with a large build, dark complexion, big ears and a chubby face.
Through the course of the investigation, police determined Smith’s name and phone number. He was identified by several witnesses, according to court paperwork.
Smith reportedly had a brief relationship with a neighbor.
He is not permitted to possess a firearm due to a 2014 stalking conviction, court documents said.
Police converged on the apartment Tuesday night, talking to possible witnesses within a large area of crime scene tape.
A young woman crouched on the ground, sobbing just beyond the crime scene line.
A neighbor, who asked not to be identified for her safety, said the area was quiet when she moved in decades ago. Now, she often sees suspicious activity in the area.
“It’s these babies I care about,” she said, pointing to a young boy who trailed behind his father as the man rushed over to comfort the weeping woman. She wept in his arms, saying she was sorry.
The Fayette County Coroner’s Office, Fayette EMS and state police also assisted on the scene.
Smith is charged with criminal homicide, possession of a firearm prohibited, recklessly endangering another person and two counts of aggravated assault. A warrant was issued for his arrest Wednesday before Magisterial District Judge Michael Metros. He is awaiting his arraignment in Fayette County.
Anyone with information is asked to call Uniontown City Police Department at 724-430-2929 or Fayette County Crime Stoppers at 724-320-2042. A reward is being offered for information leading to an arrest in the case.