Teen charged in New Kensington fatal shooting to be prosecuted as a juvenile

A 15-year-old boy who is one of seven people charged in connection with a fatal shooting last summer in New Kensington will be prosecuted as a juvenile.

After what was described in court records as an emergency hearing, Westmoreland County Common Pleas Court Judge Christopher Feliciani on Tuesday transferred the case against Braedon M. Dickinson to juvenile court. Dickinson turns 16 in September.

Dickinson was just 14, and the second youngest in the group police charged last year in connection with the July 3 fatal shooting of 39-year-old Jason Raiford at Royal Court Apartment. Prosecutors said the group of teens and adults ambushed Raiford over a dispute that involved drugs and money. Raiford was shot 11 times, according to police.

All seven were charged as adults with criminal homicide, second-degree murder, aggravated assault, robbery and other related offenses.

Also charged were, Avian Molter, 16, of Pittsburgh; Jonathan Felder, 18, of Arnold; and Raquan Carpenter, 19, Elijah Gary, 18, Amir Kennedy, 15, and Da’Montae Brooks, 16, all of New Kensington.

According to court records, Westmoreland County prosecutors agreed to the request to transfer Dickinson’s case to juvenile court.

“The district attorney’s office consented to decertification after an evaluation deemed this juvenile was amenable to treatment within the juvenile detention system among other factors,” according to a statement released by District Attorney Nicole Ziccarelli.

The transfer means Dickinson, even if he is convicted of murder in the juvenile court system, cannot remain in custody beyond his 21st birthday.

Dickinson as of Monday was receiving inpatient medical treatment at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh, according to a court order signed by Feliciani.

Ziccarelli, through spokeswoman Melanie Jones, declined to comment about why Dickinson was hospitalized. The teen’s attorney, Assistant Public Defender Patrice DiPietro, did not respond to a request for comment.

Molter and Felder are awaiting hearings on requests to have their cases transferred to juvenile court.

All seven charged with Raiford’s shooting are being held in custody without bond.