Shooting, Crash Leaves One Dead,
Several Others Injured

Two charged after Route 30 pursuit ends in three-car crash

By Staff Reports
The Tube City Almanac
October 29, 2019
Posted in: Crime and Police News, North Versailles Twp. News

Two people have been charged after a car chase and shooting in North Versailles Twp. that left a Pittsburgh man dead and closed Route 30 for nearly 12 hours.

Several people were injured during the incident, which ended with a three-car crash Sunday night between Great Valley Shopping Center and the George Westinghouse Bridge.

Richard N. Littlejohn Jr., 32, of Pittsburgh's Hill District was pronounced dead at the scene, the Allegheny County Medical Examiner's Office said Monday. He had suffered a gunshot wound to the head.

Other occupants of the vehicles --- which included four children and an infant --- suffered injuries and were treated at local hospitals, Allegheny County police said.

Allegheny County police Lt. Kenneth Ruckel said Littlejohn was driving west on Route 30 just before 7:30 when two men, identified by police as Tyrone Freeman, 22, of Homestead, and Erik Desean Addison, 23, of Pittsburgh, began pursuing Littlejohn's car.

According to an affidavit of probable cause, police said Littlejohn and the passengers in his car had just left a baby shower. Freeman and Addison were waiting outside and began following Littlejohn, the complaint said.

Investigators believe that during the chase, multiple gunshots were fired into Littlejohn's car from the other vehicle, county police Sgt. Venerando Costa said. At least one shot struck Littlejohn in the head, according to the medical examiner's office.

Littlejohn's car then collided with the other vehicle, county police said, sending both cars out of control and into the eastbound lanes near Warren Drive.

There, the car in which Freeman and Addison were traveling collided head-on with a third car that was headed east.

The passengers in the third car included two women, ages 41 and 22, a 2-year-old boy, a 2-year-old girl, and an infant girl, police said. All were taken to the hospital for treatment, police said. Their names were not released.

There were three passengers in Littlejohn's car, including a 25-year-old man and two boys, ages 1 and 10. Police did not release their names or the extent of their injuries.

Freeman was injured in the crash and was arrested at the scene, police said. He is under police guard at AHN Forbes Regional Hospital, Monroeville, pending arraignment.

Police said Addison fled the scene and a warrant has been issued for his arrest. Addison is described as a black male, 6-feet-4-inches tall and weighing 260 pounds.

Costa said that anyone with information about Addison's whereabouts should call 9-1-1 immediately.

A 20-year-old man also was in Freeman and Addison's car. His name was not released and no charges have been filed against him.

Freeman has been charged with homicide, criminal conspiracy, aggravated assault, receiving stolen property, recklessly endangering other persons and carrying a firearm without a license, court records indicate.

Addison is wanted on charges of homicide, criminal conspiracy, aggravated assault, receiving stolen property, unlawful possession of a firearm, recklessly endangering other persons and carrying a firearm without a license.

Court records indicate that at the time of the shooting, Littlejohn was free on $5,000 bond pending a preliminary hearing Nov. 6 before Judge Kim Berkeley Clark.

Officials said Littlejohn was arrested by Pittsburgh police on Friday and charged with possession of controlled substances, possession with intent to deliver, resisting arrest and several motor vehicle violations.

Police said they are continuing to interview witnesses, and that anyone who may have seen the chase or the accident is asked to call the Allegheny County police tip line at 1-833-ALL-TIPS (1-833-255-8477). Callers may remain anonymous.

County police also may be reached via Twitter and Facebook.

Originally published October 29, 2019.

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