Two men held for trial in McKeesport homicide

Two men charged with homicide in the slaying of a man during a drug robbery in McKeesport were held for trial today over the objections of a defense attorney who said one of the men had nothing to do with the heist.

Eugene McCarthy Jr., 23, of the Hill District, and Quintelle Anthony Rankin, 21, will head to trial on charges of criminal homicide, robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery in the death of 18-year-old Brandon Johns of McKeesport. Mr. Rankin also faces a charge of carrying a firearm without a license and Mr. McCarthy a misdemeanor charge of evidence tampering.

Corey Estes, who is related to both men and witnessed the shooting, testified that he met the two men in the Hill District on the afternoon of Aug. 7, where they rode around and smoked marijuana.

When they ran out, Mr. McCarthy suggested they drive to McKeesport to find more. They ended up at the Brinton Manor apartment complex, where, according to Mr. Estes, Mr. McCarthy said there were "easy licks up here."

Mr. Estes testified that Mr. McCarthy was suggesting that there were opportunities for robberies there.

Mr. Johns led them to a stairwell, where he got out a bag of marijuana and a scale and told the men he would charge them $ 20 a gram. Mr. Estes testified that Mr. McCarthy told the man "You might as well give me all this [stuff]." At around the same time, Mr. Rankin, who was standing behind him, pulled out a gun and put it at his side.

Mr. Johns told them "You can have it all," but then pulled out a gun. He and Mr. McCarthy started "tussling," Mr. Estes said, and two shots were fired. One struck Mr. Rankin in the stomach, who fired back several times, fatally shooting Mr. Johns, prosecutors said. The three went back to the car and drove Mr. Rankin, who had been shot in the stomach, to UPMC McKeesport.

But on cross-examination, Mr. McCarthy's attorney, Milton Raiford, argued his client was merely a bystander and had no idea the robbery was going to occur.

"I don't believe that my client planned or schemed to commit robbery," Mr. Raiford said.

A formal arraignment is scheduled for both men on Nov. 1.

Moriah Balingit: mbalingit@post-gazette.com, 412-263-2533 or on Twitter @MoriahBee.
First Published August 31, 2012 12:35 pm

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