Murder charge dismissed against defendant in 2021 Parkway East shooting

Homicide and related charges were dismissed against a Churchill man accused in the shooting death of a woman traveling along the Parkway East in Churchill last year, according to court documents.

The charges filed against Leroy Eugene Irvin Jr., 35, in the death of Jasmine A. Guest, 24, of Monroeville were dismissed Friday at a preliminary hearing before Castle Shannon Magisterial Judge David Barton. Aggravated assault and attempted homicide charges against Irvin also were dismissed.

Homicide and seven other charges filed against Irvin’s co-defendant, Howard Milligan, 26, of Turtle Creek were held for trial in a preliminary hearing in March, according to court documents. Milligan’s trial is scheduled to start on July 14 in Allegheny Court Court.

Irvin’s attorney, Frank Walker, said, “We are pleased that the murder charges were dismissed against Mr. Irvin but disappointed that the charges were even filed.

“This was a clear attempt to develop and strengthen the case against the alleged shooter (Milligan) by unlawfully charging Mr. Irvin with murder charges in hopes that he would testify against Mr. Milligan at trial … despite having absolutely no evidence that he was involved other than being merely present at the scene of the crime,” Walker said.

Irvin and Milligan were accused in the May 22, 2021, shooting death of Guest, who was a passenger in a car driving along the Parkway East.

Irvin told police that Milligan had fired the fatal shots at the car sometime around 4 a.m. The shooting occurred after Milligan and Guest had seen each other and spoke outside a South Side restaurant about 2:45 a.m., according to the criminal complaint filed by state police.

Charges against the pair were not filed by state police until Jan. 31.

Pair face charges in second slaying

Irvin and Milligan still face criminal homicide charges in connection with the fatal shooting of death of Shane Edwards, 22, of Pittsburgh, who was killed while traveling southbound on Route 28 in Shaler, about 2 a.m. May 22, 2021.

Milligan and Irvin were at the Zone 28 bowling alley in Harmar when Edwards was bowling with a friend, according to the criminal complaint. Irvin told investigators Milligan shot at Edwards’ car because he believed people in that vehicle were responsible for his sister’s death, according to the criminal complaint.

Both Irvin and Milligan remain in the Allegheny County Jail in Pittsburgh.