Arnold teen charged with fatal New Kensington shooting pleads guilty to lesser charge

Westmoreland County prosecutors on Monday dismissed homicide charges against an Arnold man in the fatal shooting of a man at a New Kensington apartment building in July 2022.

Jonathan Felder, 19, pleaded guilty to one lesser count of conspiracy to commit robbery. He was one of seven youths charged in what prosecutors described as a melee in the lobby of the Valley Court Royal Apartments. Jason Raiford, 39, was gunned down as he stepped out of the building.

Felder was among the group who police said surrounded Raiford and demanded money for a drug debt before he was pistol whipped and shot 11 times, including multiple rounds to his back as he lay on the ground.

Prosecutors also dismissed four other felony counts against Felder, including robbery and aggravated assault.

Amir Kennedy, 16, of New Kensington, was convicted of first-degree murder and other offenses following a weeklong trial in December. He and 16-year-old Braedon Dickinson, of Connellsville, have been the only defendants convicted of Raiford’s murder. Dickinson pleaded guilty last week in juvenile court to third-degree murder and is awaiting sentencing in Fayette County.

The same jury that convicted Kennedy acquitted Elijah Gary, 20 of New Kensington, and DaMontae Brooks, 17, of New Kensington of murder charges. Gary and Brooks were convicted of lesser charges including robbery and conspiracy counts.

Avian Molter, 16, of Pittsburgh, pleaded guilty last week to conspiracy to commit robbery and a weapons offense.

Defense attorney Adam Gorzelsky said his client, Felder, did not have a gun during the incident.

“When everything happened and the fight broke out he went up the stairs and tried to get away. Ultimately, he was in the wrong place at the wrong time and was hanging out with the wrong kids,” Gorzelsky said.

Assistant District Attorney Jackie Knupp referred all questions about the plea deal for Felder and last week’s agreement with Molter to District Attorney Nicole Ziccarelli. Ziccarelli did not respond to a request for comment.

Felder was 17 when he was jailed following his arrest days after the shooting. He faces up to 20 years in prison but is expected to receive a much shorter sentence, Gorzelsky said.

Common Pleas Court Judge Christopher Feliciani said the circumstances of Felder’s behavior during the melee will be considered in determining punishment for his actions.

A seventh defendant, Raquan Carpenter, 20, of Pittsburgh, also is expected to plead guilty to lesser charges. Carpenter was the lone suspect to testify for prosecutors at the December trial.