Suspect Charged In Wilkinsburg Murder, Victim's Body Found Behind School
WILKINSBURG (KDKA/AP) -- The man accused in a fatal shooting in Wilkinsburg is behind bars at the Allegheny County Jail, facing several charges.
Shauntel Studvant was booked into the jail overnight on charges of homicide, tampering with evidence and firearms violations in the shooting death earlier this week of 22-year-old Regis Jones.
Jones was found suffering from multiple gunshot wounds on a walkway between Sister Thea Bowman School and St. James Church on Rebecca Avenue early Thursday morning. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police responded to a report of shots being fired around 11:45 p.m. Wednesday, two blocks from where the victim was later found. However, they didn't find anything at the time. Police said they are not sure if the two incidents are connected.
From video surveillance, police say they were able to determine that a shooting had happened in the area around 11:30 p.m. Wednesday.
According to the criminal complaint, Studvant told police he allegedly tried to rob Jones while they walked down the alley. The criminal complaint also reports that Studvant said Jones allegedly sold marijuana and had drugs and money on him.
Police said Studvant claimed there was a struggle for the gun and he was able to get it from Jones and that's when he shot him several times.
Surveillance video from the school and several other city cameras captured Studvant and Jones walking down the street together, investigators said.
According to the complaint, Studvant said he ran from the scene and ended up tossing the gun into the river.
As for the students of the academy near where the body was found, the principal said Thursday the discovery didn't delay the student's arrival shortly before 8 a.m.
Pittsburgh diocesan spokeswoman Ann Rodgers said a letter was going to be sent home to parents so they "will be informed and assisted in comforting and supporting their children."
Join The Conversation On The KDKA Facebook Page
Stay Up To Date, Follow KDKA On Twitter
(TM and © Copyright 2015 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2015 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
