BEAVER Prosecutors and defense lawyers in the homicide trial of Sheldon Jeter gave their opening statements Thursday after three days of jury selection.
The Beaver County District Attorney’s Office, pursuing a first-degree murder conviction, summarized evidence allegedly connecting Jeter to the shooting death of his friend, 30-year-old Tyric Pugh, on the night of May 15, 2020.
Jeter, 23, of Aliquippa is charged with criminal homicide following the shooting. Police said Pugh, who lived with Jeter and his relative, was found lying dead on Kiehl Street with multiple gunshot wounds just before midnight.
“Seven total injuries, six of which are bullet entry wounds,” First Assistant District Attorney Chad Parks told the jury. “Five of which are in the head.”
Tyler Technologies staff began the collection process later than expected due to COVID-19 restrictions last year, said chief county solicitor Garen Fedeles, and a lack of available door-to-door surveyors further delayed the undertaking.
Authorities and surviving family members knew for decades who was responsible for a killing spree that touched western Pennsylvania in 1977-78, but even after 40 years in prison, the suspect wouldn t confess.
That changed earlier this year when notorious 1970s serial killer and Aliquippa native Edward Surratt admitted to slaying six Pennsylvanians, including three Beaver County residents. He also confessed to two murders in Bedford County and one in Fulton County.
Pennsylvania State Police announced on Wednesday that Surratt, now serving two life sentences in Florida, admitted to the killings during a police interview in March. Surratt’s confession led to resolutions in four unsolved homicide cases in the state.