A 20-year-old Pittsburgh man has been charged in connection with the fatal shooting of another man in the city’s Northview Heights neighborhood on Saturday afternoon.
According to the Pittsburgh Public Safety Department, officers responded to reports of a shooting shortly after 4:30 p.m. in the 800 block of Mount Pleasant Road. When they arrived, they found an unresponsive male victim who had been shot multiple times. Medics at the scene pronounced him dead.
The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office later identified the victim as 21-year-old Christian Thomas of Pittsburgh.
The suspect, identified as Stephon Carter, was arrested following an investigation by the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police’s Violent Crime Unit. Police say Carter is charged with criminal homicide, carrying a firearm without a license, and reckless endangerment.
Witnesses in the area reported hearing multiple gunshots before seeing the victim collapse on the street. Residents nearby described the incident as sudden and terrifying, with some saying they ducked for cover as the shots rang out in the residential area.
Police reviewed surveillance footage and conducted interviews with several individuals in the area. According to court documents, investigators say Carter was seen arguing with Thomas before allegedly pulling out a handgun and shooting him.
Carter reportedly fled the scene on foot after the shooting. Investigators used video evidence and eyewitness testimony to track his movements. Authorities said they later found Carter at a nearby location and took him into custody without incident.
A search warrant executed as part of the investigation led officers to recover a handgun believed to be the weapon used in the shooting. The firearm will undergo forensic testing to confirm if it matches the bullets recovered at the crime scene.
The arrest comes as Pittsburgh continues to grapple with a series of gun-related incidents across different neighborhoods.
Northview Heights, a neighborhood in the city’s northern part, is home to a large public housing complex and has seen increased police presence in recent months due to rising concerns about violent crime.
Community leaders and residents are expressing frustration over the continued violence. Some are calling for more investment in youth programs, mental health services, and conflict resolution initiatives. Others say gun access and lack of community policing contribute to the problem.
“This has to stop,” said a Northview Heights resident who asked not to be named. “We’re scared for our children. Every time we hear gunshots, we don’t know if someone we love is next.”
Pittsburgh police have not shared additional information about what may have led to the altercation between Carter and Thomas, but the investigation remains ongoing.
Authorities are asking anyone with additional information or footage from the area around the time of the shooting to come forward and assist in the case. They are especially interested in speaking with individuals who may have witnessed the events leading up to the shooting.
Court documents show that Carter has a prior criminal record, including an arrest in a separate case involving illegal firearm possession. It is not clear whether that case is still pending in court or has been resolved.
Carter is currently being held in the Allegheny County Jail. A preliminary hearing is expected to take place later this month.
This latest shooting adds to the number of homicides recorded in Pittsburgh so far this year. According to publicly available city crime data, there has been an increase in violent crime reports in 2025 compared to the same period last year.
Local officials continue to urge residents to report suspicious activity and support community initiatives aimed at reducing violence. Mayor Ed Gainey’s administration has been working with law enforcement and nonprofits to launch new safety and outreach programs in high-risk areas, including Northview Heights.