McKeesport man gets county jail sentence for killing grandfather

Jhalil Brown had no criminal record, graduated at the top of his high school class, and then from college.

But he also fired 17 shots at his grandfather in the man’s McKeesport home and killed him.

Brown, 24, pleaded guilty to third-degree murder before Common Pleas Judge Kevin G. Sasinoski on May 20.

On Thursday, he was ordered to serve 11-1/2 to 23 months in jail — on top of the two years he’s already served.

“He’s a wonderful young man who was put in a very difficult circumstance to have to take the life of his mother’s father,” said defense attorney Milt Raiford. “The family is trying to heal right now.”

At the sentencing, the prosecution sought a guideline sentence of five to 10 years in prison.

Mike Manko, a spokesman with the office, said they will review the transcript of the hearing to decide whether to take further action.

“District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala Jr. believes the actions of this defendant merited time in the state penitentiary, and he is disappointed by the outcome of today’s sentencing,” Manko said.

Police were called to a house on Abraham Street in McKeesport just before 6:30 a.m. on Aug. 6, 2018.

When officers arrived, Brown was on the front porch. He admitted that he shot his grandfather, Lanny Hutson, and officers found the 9 mm gun he used also on the porch.

Hutson, 57, was found dead in the living room behind a couch, according to the criminal complaint. Investigators found 17 spent shell casings in the living room, and Hutson had been shot multiple times in his torso, head and arms, police said.

Raiford said that Hutson was the aggressor that morning and ran at Brown, who graduated from University of Pittsburgh at Titusville.

Hutson had a criminal record that included convictions for rape, bank robbery and firearms charges.

Raiford praised Sasinoski for the sentence.

“I believe God was merciful,” he said.