Police: Man fatally stabbed father in Mt. Washington because he 'wanted a cigarette'

A man is accused of fatally stabbing his wheelchair-bound father and injuring his brother in a Mt. Washington home because “he was frustrated, cold, and wanted a cigarette,” Pittsburgh police said.

Police have arrested Javon Taylor, 31, and charged him with criminal homicide, aggravated assault, recklessly endangering another person, and burglary in connection with the Wednesday stabbing.

Police received two 911 calls and responded to the 100 block of Southern Avenue at 7:56 a.m. that day, and found the two victims suffering from stab wounds. Neither man was identified by name in the criminal complaint. One call came from the home and another came from the wife of the deceased, who stated that she was not home and that her husband was paralyzed and called her for help, police said.

The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s office identified the victim as Vincent Roebuck, 72.

Police wrote in a criminal complaint that Taylor broke into the home by kicking in a basement door. Taylor’s brother had a protection from abuse court order against him, according to the complaint.

The two men were taken to UPMC Mercy, where the father was pronounced dead at 8:38 a.m. The second victim suffered a laceration to the neck and was in “critical but stable condition,” according to the complaint.

Police found Taylor at a Mt. Washington laundromat around 9 a.m. and arrested him without incident.

He confessed and agreed to a video interview with officers, according to the complaint.

“Taylor admitted to committing the stabbing because he was frustrated, cold, and wanted a cigarette,” police wrote. They did not elaborate.

He was arraigned early Thursday and denied bail. He is being held at the Allegheny County Jail.