Trial starts for man accused of killing McKeesport woman
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A bench trial began Monday for a man accused in a double shooting that left one woman dead and another man injured on the steps of a McKeesport bar in 2017.
Daniel Bizzelle, 27, is charged with homicide in the July 16, 2017, death of 23-year-old Samantha Klavora. He is charged with attempted homicide, aggravated assault and reckless endangerment for allegedly shooting and wounding another man in the shooting.
The surviving victim told police that he and Klavora were walking up a set of city steps on Fifth Avenue when they heard someone approach from behind, according to the criminal complaint against Bizzelle. He said he recognized the man as an acquaintance he knew only as “Boog Bray,” later identified as Bizelle.
The victim told police Bizzelle seemed to think he was responsible for the murder a month prior of 24-year-old Diaz Petty, also in McKeesport, according to the complaint. Bizzelle began shooting, and the victim tried to run. Klavora tried to step in, at which point Bizzelle allegedly turned the gun on her.
Klavora was shot six times in her torso and lower body, police said, and she was pronounced dead a short time later. Investigators said they found 13 spent cartridge casings at the scene, as well as several jacketed fragments and 10 individual strike marks on the concrete steps.
Police said the surviving victim picked Bizzelle out of a photo array.