The two-week-old investigation into the fatal shooting of a 7-year-old boy in Erie continues to generate evidence and information that is helping to move the case along, according to the head of the city police bureau’s Criminal Investigation Division.
The killing of Antonio “Espn” Yarger Jr., who died days after he was shot in the head while walking with others in an eastside neighborhood on April 14, remains a focus of detectives who are constantly collecting new information, Deputy Chief Rick Lorah said Thursday.
That information includes numerous video surveillance clips from security cameras in and around the shooting scene, including surveillance clips that detectives have received as recently as Wednesday, Lorah said.
7-year-boy dies after being shot in ErieA 7-year-old boy who was shot in the head Thursday night in his Downing Avenue neighborhood died Monday
Those clips have shown — among other things — different vehicles and groups of people in the area when the shooting occurred, according to Lorah.
“I’m encouraged by the progress we are making every day,” he said. “We’re getting more and more, other pieces to the puzzle.”
Erie County District Attorney Elizabeth Hirz said Erie police are in constant communication with her office as the investigation progresses.
“The Erie Police Department is working around the clock, doing everything they can to solve this case,” Hirz said Thursday.
Probe ongoing in killing of Erie boyErie police detectives continued to pore over a large amount of surveillance video on Tuesday in an effort to identify
According to police, Antonio was walking with a group of other juveniles when he was shot on April 14 at about 7:40 p.m. on the northwest corner of Downing Avenue and Fairmount Parkway. The shooting occurred about a block south of Antonio’s house in the 2000 block of Downing Avenue, near the former Burton School.
Antonio was taken by ambulance to a local hospital and was then flown to Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC, where he died on April 18, according to the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office.
No one else was injured in the shooting.
City police detectives have talked to a number of witnesses as part of the investigation. Although no gun was recovered, police did collect shell casings at the scene and have sent them out for testing, Lorah said.
Investigators have not said whether they believe the gunshots were fired from a vehicle or from a person or people on foot. They have also not commented on any other evidence collected in the investigation.
Teen charged in Erie school shootingThough he is charged as a juvenile, the 14-year-old boy accused in the Erie High School shooting could still be
The shooting, the latest in a surge of gun violence in Erie that has occurred for more than a year, has drawn outrage throughout the city. It has generated a call from some city leaders, including Mayor Joe Schember, Erie police Inspector Mike Nolan and Erie schools Superintendent Brian Polito, for a communitywide response in addressing and stemming gun violence that has increasingly involved juvenile offenders and juvenile victims and recently took place in a school setting.
More than 250 people attended funeral services for Antonio on Saturday at the Second Baptist Church. Many wore superhero costumes in honor of the boy, who was a Spider-Man fan.
Officials urge unity in crime surgeAs Erie reels from the April 5 shooting at Erie High School and the April 14 fatal shooting of a 7-year-old boy
Erie shooting victim rememberedMore than 250 people — most wearing Superman capes and Spider-Man costumes — celebrated the young life and tragic death
Antonio’s death was the second homicide in Erie so far this year. Erie police continue to investigate the fatal shooting of Shannon Crosby, 30, on Jan. 27 on McClelland Avenue.
Also still under investigation by city police is the fatal shooting of Antonio’s father, Antonio “Jay” Yarger, 31, on Sept. 16, 2016.
The elder Yarger was killed when he was shot after arriving at an East 21st Street residence where he was staying. Investigators said three unknown males had broken into the house, and Yarger was shot as he entered the front door.
Anyone with information that could assist in the ongoing investigation into Antonio Yarger Jr.’s death is asked to call Erie police Detective Sgt. Matthew Berarducci at 814-870-1221 or Detective Ira Bush at 814-870-1128.
Probe continues into fatal Erie shootingSince April 14, Erie police have focused on finding who fatally shot 7-year-old Antonio “Espn” Yarger Jr., a killing
More:A third person believed to be connected to a Jan. 27 fatal shooting during a suspected home-invasion robbery at a short
Contact Tim Hahn at thahn@timesnews.com. Follow him on Twitter @ETNhahn.
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