An 18-year-old student in the Woodland Hills school district was shot and killed Tuesday night in North Braddock.
Nevaeh Leeha Howard of Rankin was in her senior year at Woodland Hills Online Academy, school superintendent Dan Castagna said. The academy is a cyber-school serving district students in kindergarten through 12th grade.
“Nevaeh was a cherished member of our school community,” district officials said in a letter to parents on Wednesday. “Her loss is deeply felt by all who knew her.”
Grief counselors and additional support services were available Wednesday, officials said.
State police said a disturbance with multiple people in the 400 block of Loginger Avenue became physical before Howard was shot once in the chest around 9:30 p.m. She was transported to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital, where she died.
On Wednesday, Kisha Grey, who lives on Lobinger Avenue, said her 20-year-old son ran home after seeing a group of young adults arguing with a woman outside of a house in the neighborhood.
Grey said her son heard someone tell the group to leave the area before the shooting occurred.
Gregory Tippett, who lives nearby, said he received a call from a friend who lived in his apartment building to come downstairs right after the shooting.
Tippet said when he got downstairs there were police on the street.
“They start taping off everything,” Tippett said.
He said all the cars on surrounding streets were stopped.
Tippett said that he heard a girl screaming. One man kneeled down to feel Howard’s pulse before police arrived.
“It was murder,” Tippett said.
Pennsylvania State Police are investigating and did not announce any arrests or suspects on Wednesday.
The shooting location is near Jesus’ Dwelling Place, where police say earlier this month Bernard J. Polite, 26, of North Braddock tried to shoot Pastor Glenn Germany during a sermon but the gun failed to fire.