Man charged in connection with killings of woman, 7-year-old in Swissvale

The Allegheny County Police Homicide Unit obtained an arrest warrant Saturday for Kareef Easington in connection with the fatal shooting of a woman and child in Swissvale.

Easington, 35, was previously sought by the police for questioning. He remains at large.

Police said Easington lived with the victims, Megan J. Campbell, 39, and Lyla Campbell, 7.

The two victims were found shot dead in their apartment Wednesday morning after police were called to the building in the 7800 block of Sailor Place.

Easington wasn’t at the scene Wednesday when first responders arrived.

Police were called to the apartment in the 7800 block of Sailor Place around 10:15 a.m. to help medics get inside.

Police said a county 911 dispatcher had received a call for a male having chest pains in an apartment there.

When paramedics arrived, they didn’t get a response from the apartment dispatched. They contacted the property manager and learned the phone number that called 911 was associated with another apartment on the same floor.

Medics couldn’t get inside and summoned Swissvale police; they forced their way into the apartment.

First responders found both victims had been shot..

According to the criminal complaint, police found two 9mm casings, a T-Mobile SIM card, and a Ford car key in the toilet in the apartment bathroom.

The key matched with a gray Ford Fusion parked behind the apartment, which was registered to Easington. The SIM card was traced to a phone number that matched a number given by a witness as Easington’s phone number. Other documents were found in the apartment with Easington’s name on them.

Seeking the suspect

Police described Easington as a Black male, 5-foot-10, weighing 180 pounds. He is charged with two counts of criminal homicide and tampering with evidence.

Police detectives said they had information that Easington fled to Homestead initially, but he also has family in New Jersey and a connection in Jamaica.

Anyone with information about Easington or the homicide should call the Allegheny County Police tip line at 1-833-255-8477. Police said anyone who sees Easington should call 911.