Artists speak up after woman shot, killed near Pittsburgh peace mural

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- A 21-year-old woman died after being shot near the East Busway overpass in the city's Homewood South neighborhood.

Heaven Budd, 21, was shot right near a series of murals, including one that calls for an end to gun violence. On Monday, several of the artists gathered to embrace the meaning. 

Entering Homewood Brushton, you go beneath a railroad underpass brightened by murals of hope, history, positivity and faith. 

"We're making a statement, a statement that's going to last not just for one generation but for many," said artist Frank Tillman Jr., who helped create a portion of "Peace Over Pittsburgh." 

It's a labor of love for Kyle Holbrook, the chief artist. 

The mural depicts a number of things all pointing to stopping gun violence -- a tragic coincidence considering what happened. 

"At the peace mural, right here, a young person lost their life," said Holbrook. 

Pittsburgh police say a 21-year-old woman was gunned down in broad daylight there. Two suspects are on the run.

"There's not any words that I can say that will bring this beautiful young woman to life," Holbrook said.

Holbrook, flanked by his mentor artists, met at the mural to talk about how art and reality tragically collided. Holbrook says anger, pain and hope have collided as well in his soul. 

"I had a little bit of all those emotions in these last 24 hours," Holbrook said. 

"Young people are dying, and it's kids. These are kids."

As police search for a suspect, Holbrook and his fellow artists search for those who want to use art as a peaceful outlet.

"They need to know and be cognizant and aware that these opportunities are here, that there's something different than taking a life," Holbrook said. 

"It's better than doing nothing and we're not going to give up, we're going to keep working and keep fighting. We're not going to sit and wait for a grant to do something."