Former Rochester Football Star Killed In New Brighton
NEW BRIGHTON (KDKA) -- A community is mourning the death of a young man in Beaver County.
De'Andre Moon, 18, was fatally shot on a boat dock off First Avenue in New Brighton overnight.
Moon was a recent graduate of Rochester Area High School and was a standout running back on the football team.
He was planning to play for Concord University in Athens, W. Va., a Division II school where he had a full scholarship. He was supposed to leave for school on Wednesday.
His best friend and soon-to-be roommate Aaron Law is left to wonder why the shooting happened.
"I have no idea," Law said. "I don't know why he was out. I've been telling him to stop doing that."
Police say Moon and a friend were at the docks at 2 a.m. Wednesday when he was shot on David Mooney's houseboat.
"New Brighton police along with the Pennsylvania State Police did gathering of evidence, secured three vehicles and which will later be searched," New Brighton Police Chief Charles VanFossan said. "The boat was owned by 19-year-old David Mooney from New Brighton. Currently, we are seeking his whereabouts for questioning."
Mooney was questioned by New Brighton Police and left the station without being charged. The police chief says he is a person of interest and the investigation is far from over.
Mooney's attorney says it was self-defense.
"It's still being investigated and there are a lot of circumstances that I can't go into, but this was a combination of a couple of days of things that really caused David to be in fear for his life," attorney Steve Colafella said. "And he conveyed that to them and he explained in detail what happened. They interviewed his girlfriend."
The 16-year-old girl was at the dock with Mooney when the shooting happened. Police say they believe other people were at the dock as well and they also need speak with them.
Police say Moon was taken to a local hospital before he died. Wednesday night, hundreds gathered for a candlelight vigil.
The Rochester Area School District will have grief counselors available at the high school from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday.
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