2 charged in shooting that killed 15-year-old Oliver Citywide Academy student
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — Pittsburgh police announced they made arrests in the shooting that left a 15-year-old dead outside of Oliver Citywide Academy last year.
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According to Pittsburgh Public Safety, 18-year-old Eugene Watson and 17-year-old Brandon Watson were taken into custody and are facing charges of criminal homicide, conspiracy and firearms violations. The two are brothers and will be charged as adults.
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On Jan. 19, 2022, police were called to the school just before 2 p.m. Once they arrived, officers found that 15-year-old Marquis Campbell had been shot in the chest while inside a school van. He was taken to a local hospital, where he later died.
According to the criminal complaint, police believe the brothers and the victims had a beef, and that is what led to the shooting. They said the teens were involved in three fights at another school they all attended a few months before the shooting at Oliver Citywide.
According to the criminal complaint, surveillance video showed the brothers walking near the van before police say Eugene shot twice into the van's partially opened window, hitting Campbell before Eugene and his brother ran off.
Police say officers followed fresh footprints in the snow to Bethel Assembly of God Church, where they found various articles of clothing, shoes and a fully loaded .38-revolver. According to the complaint, tests later revealed traces of Brandon's DNA on clothing and the gun.
Police say Brandon hid a backpack with a change of clothes at the church and retrieved it after the shooting.
A Giant Eagle receipt was also found by officers, which led police to the Crafton store where the teens were allegedly seen on surveillance video.
The brothers are being held in the Allegheny County Jail without bond.
Pittsburgh Public Schools released a statement, saying:
"The Pittsburgh Public Schools and its Board of School Directors are thankful to learn that arrests have been made in the tragic killing of former student Marquis Campbell. As educators, we are deeply saddened by the damaging and lasting impact community violence has on all young people. We grieve for the multiple young lives we have lost due to gun violence. While we also mourn the lost potential that occurs when young people decide to commit deadly violence, should the suspects be found guilty, we expect justice to be served. It must be clear that our community will not tolerate heinous acts of gun violence anywhere near our schools that put the safety of our students and staff in danger.
"We are grateful for the diligence and cooperation of multiple entities, including the City of Pittsburgh Police, the Pittsburgh Public Schools School Police, all the law enforcement agencies which assisted in this investigation, and Pittsburgh Oliver Citywide Academy to reach today's outcome. We hope to soon gain closure for our school community and the family of Marquis Campbell."