Police say North Side man confessed to killing former neighbor

It took three tries this week for Joshua James Short to kill his former neighbor, Pittsburgh police said.

The 21-year-old North Side man tried breaking into Joseph Sees Jr.’s Manchester home at about 1 a.m. Saturday, Short told police in what they called a full confession to the murder.

When Sees opened the door early Saturday, Short aimed his .380-caliber pistol and shot at him — but missed, according to a criminal complaint in the case. The victim suffered only a gunshot-powder burn to his face and damage to a hoodie he was wearing.

Later that same day, Short tried to erect a ladder against Sees’ house to sneak in, the complaint said. Sees called 9-1-1, and Short fled before police arrived.

On Sunday afternoon, Short took a 9mm handgun he found in an abandoned North Side house where he was living and drove a stolen Honda SUV to Sheffield Street, Short told police in his confession.

He then walked up to Sees’ house while he was parked outside, and shot him in the head.

“Short stated that he was a former neighbor of Sees,” police wrote in the complaint. “Short stated that he had ongoing issues with Sees.”

After killing Sees, Short discarded his clothing between two nearby houses, got in his SUV and drove around the North Side, city camera showed. He parked at a Chateau brewery, then returned to the scene of the crime — just 10 minutes after police arrived there — to watch investigators look for evidence.

Pittsburgh police officers said they arrived at 1128 Stedman St. around 4:30 p.m. for a report of a man who had been shot.

They found Sees, 29, sitting in the driver’s seat of a bluish-gray Ford Fusion in front of his house, the complaint said. The vehicle, parked with the engine running, had large amounts of blood in the front passenger seat. A bullet had cut “jagged metal edges” in the passenger door.

Music still was playing in the car, the complaint said. The driver’s-side window was down.

Paramedics took Sees to nearby Allegheny General Hospital, where he died. On Monday, the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office said Sees died from multiple gunshot wounds to the head. His death was deemed a homicide.

Investigators at the scene found a live 9mm bullet and three 9mm casings, the complaint said. Nearby, there were two jackets — one black, one black and gold — soaked in blood. Short later admitted his 9mm gun was the murder weapon.

Police found Short’s clothing in a haphazard pile between 1106 and 1104 Sheffield St: a black face mask, black Levi’s jeans, a black Carhartt knit hat, and rubber gloves, the complaint said.

Short was found Wednesday in the back seat of a black Mercedes-Benz reported stolen from UPMC Montefiore hospital, the complaint said. He seemed like he was going to flee, but instead cooperated with police.

Pittsburgh police charged Short with criminal homicide, aggravated assault, burglary, attempted homicide, receiving stolen property, and carrying a firearm without a license, court records show.

Short remained in Allegheny County Jail on Thursday night, court records show. District Judge Thomas S. Brletic denied him bail.

Short’s attorney was not listed in the court record. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Nov. 3.