Allegheny County grand jury investigating Haunted Hills Hayride, Airbnb shootings

An Allegheny County grand jury is hearing evidence in at least two high-profile cases involving deadly shootings that both happened more than a year ago but police have yet to file charges, sources familiar with the proceedings said.

The panel, which sits at the District Attorney’s Office in the Dormont municipal building, has heard testimony on both the shooting death of a 15-year-old boy at the Haunted Hills Hayride in North Versailles two years ago and the April 17, 2022, shooting death of two teens at an Airbnb on the North Side.

It’s unclear how long the grand jury investigations have been underway.

A message sent to the District Attorney’s Office was not returned.

Steven Eason Jr., 15, of Wilmerding was shot and killed at the hayride on Sept. 11, 2021.

He had gone to the hayride about 8 p.m. that day with his twin sister and met a group of friends there. His sister got on an earlier ride. While he waited for another, a fight broke out among a group of teens. An attorney representing the family said Eason, a sophomore student-athlete at Pittsburgh’s Central Catholic High School, tried to break it up.

Instead, he was shot twice in the chest and stomach.

Hayride shooting:

• Sept. 12, 2021. Police seek cellphone video evidence of fatal North Versailles hayride shooting
• Oct. 1, 2021. 'They are literally taking our future away from us': Family seeks leads in North Versailles hayride killing
• Sept. 2, 2022. Mom of Wilmerding teen killed at haunted attraction files lawsuit against business

Steven’s mother, Shantel Pizaro, said she’s trying to be understanding and remain positive.

“I didn’t think we’d be at two years without even having someone charged in the case,” she said. “There’s definitely fear of it becoming a cold case, of not obtaining any kind of justice.”

Pizaro said she has been in close contact with the Allegheny County homicide detective leading her son’s case. But information has been scant.

“People aren’t coming forward. People aren’t talking,” Pizaro said.

That is a possible reason the grand jury is being used to investigate the case.

In the grand jury process, the panel conducts an investigation, led by the DA’s office, in which it can subpoena witnesses, hear sworn testimony and review documents and other evidence.

It is a secretive process that can provide some level of protection to witnesses, said Bruce Antkowiak, a former prosecutor who teaches law at Saint Vincent College.

Witnesses who may refuse to speak to police investigating a case cannot ignore a grand jury subpoena, he said. If they are reluctant to testify, they can potentially be given immunity from prosecution to allow them to provide information without fear of being charged themselves.

The grand jury also provides an advantage to prosecutors in obtaining information from witnesses. Rather than relying solely on a statement given to police, testimony at the grand jury is under oath and subject to the penalties of perjury, Antkowiak said.

“It also can be examined in more detail by prosecutors to lock down the versions the witnesses intend to provide,” he said.

Grand juries also are a good way for a prosecutor to judge a witness’s credibility.

“While the standard in a grand jury is much less than that of proof beyond a reasonable doubt, the grand jurors are in a position to give the prosecutor feedback on whether particular witnesses appear to be credible or not,” Antkowiak said.

Airbnb shooting:

• April 17, 2022. Multiple shooters suspected in 'war scene' that killed 2, injured 8 on Pittsburgh's North Side
• April 8, 2023. Year after fatal Airbnb shootings, Pittsburgh Police have no update
• May 26, 2023. Grand jury to hear testimony on Pittsburgh Airbnb shooting

In the Airbnb case, Mathew Steffy-Ross and Jaiden Brown, both 17, were killed at a house on Suismon Street near Madison Avenue in Pittsburgh’s North Side on April 17, 2022.

Eight other people were injured.

Police said about 200 people were at a house party there when at least one person opened fire. Police said at least 50 rounds were fired from multiple weapons.

Antkowiak said that in very public crimes such as these — ones that occur in view of a large amount of people — a thorough investigation takes time.

“There will be pressure from the community. But the nature of it will sometimes dictate a bit of patience is necessary to do it right and not just quickly,” he said. “These very public incidents are sometimes very hard to investigate and put together, because they have many pieces.

“Investigators are very wise to take a broad view of this and take in everything they can before reaching a final judgment.”

For Pizaro, she said she continues to wait and work on being patient.

“It seems like forever since I’ve seen my son,” she said. “It just feels like I’m sitting idle doing nothing.

“How can I be satisfied doing nothing?”