7th suspect in New Kensington murder accused of supplying gun used in attack

A man from Pittsburgh’s Carrick neighborhood is accused of providing a gun used in the attack that ended in the death of a man in New Kensington on Sunday.

Raquan Carpenter, 18, is the seventh suspect New Kensington and Westmoreland County authorities named in the killing of Jason Donald Raiford, 39, at Valley Royal Court. Carpenter was arrested Thursday.

Five of the seven suspects were in custody as of Friday afternoon, authorities said.

In court paperwork, police say Carpenter was the previously unknown man seen in surveillance video of the incident that played out between about 1:30 and 2 p.m.

According to the affidavit, Carpenter is seen entering an address at Valley Royal Court on Fifth Avenue with another suspect, Elijah Rashad Gary, 18, of New Kensington.

A few minutes later, Carpenter is seen giving a handgun he had concealed to Gary, who put it down his pants. Carpenter then exits the address, turns and watches the foyer area through a window.

According to the affidavit, during the attack on Raiford, Gary tried to hit Raiford in the head with the gun, but it fell to the ground.

Raiford picked up the gun, broke free from his attackers and moved to the doorway. Police said Raiford is seen holding the gun at his side and pointing down at the ground.

Police say it is then that Amir Kennedy, 14, of New Kensington — armed with a rifle — shoots Raiford several times in the head and torso.

Carpenter was denied bond when he was arraigned Thursday before New Kensington District Judge Frank J. Pallone Jr. and sent to the Westmoreland County jail. He is charged with second-degree murder, criminal homicide, robbery, aggravated assault, criminal conspiracy and carrying a firearm without a license.

Gary is one of two suspects identified by authorities who are still at-large.

The other is Da’Monte Marquise Brooks, 15, of New Kensington.

5th suspect arrested

Westmoreland County District Attorney Nicole Ziccarelli announced Friday that Jeannette police apprehended Avian Molter, 15, of Uniontown about 11 p.m. Thursday.

According to Ziccarelli, Molter was a passenger in a vehicle involved in a short pursuit following a traffic violation.

Molter also is charged with second-degree murder, criminal homicide, robbery, aggravated assault and criminal conspiracy. He was arraigned Friday and sent to the Westmoreland County jail without bond, according to court records.

Kennedy is being held without bond along with Braedon Matthew Dickinson, 14, of Herminie and Jonathan Eugene Felder, 17, of Arnold.

Preliminary hearings for Kennedy, Dickinson, Felder, Carpenter and Molter are scheduled for Thursday before Pallone.