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Man Shot, Killed In East Liberty, Suspect In Custody

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - A 26-year-old man from Hazelwood is dead after being shot multiple times in East Liberty.

The gunfire erupted in the 500-block of Collins Street around 7 p.m. on Mother's Day, when the family was together.

The victim, 26-year-old Jamar Thomas, was shot and killed right in front of his mother and his own children.

Today, the family is still in shock.

"I want to wake up. This is really a nightmare," Theresa Pritchard said.

For Pritchard, the loss of her son and the way it happened is surreal.

Thomas was with his family at a barbeque celebrating Mother's Day when Pittsburgh Police say 19-year-old Brett Terry shot him.

Both men had been invited to the party by another family member. One witness told police the two men had words then Terry pointed his gun at Thomas and fired five or six times, killing the father of seven.

"My son was lying on the ground and he was standing right next to me and he shot my son again right in front of my face," Pritchard said.

Police say an officer patrolling the area heard the gunfire and saw Terry with his hands up. He reportedly told the officer he dropped the gun behind his car and said that he was sorry and didn't want to shoot him.

"I want my son back. Can anybody give him his life back? And I loved the kid that killed him. I just didn't know he had it in him," Pritchard said.

A child was treated and released from Children's Hospital after being grazed in the stomach by one of the bullets.

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