Man charged in Oakland shooting

Authorities charged a man Monday for a Saturday morning shooting that left a former Slippery Rock University football team captain dead outside of the Original Hot Dog Shop in Oakland.

Isiah Smith, 22, of Lincoln-Lemington, allegedly shot and killed Zachary Sheridan, 24, of Brookline, after an altercation involving friends of both parties. Video surveillance photos taken from the Dunkin Donuts on Forbes Avenue indicated that a man, identified as Smith, shot Sheridan in the back as he fled across Forbes Avenue and fired another shot into the air. Sheridan then stumbled out of the surveillance camera’s range as Smith concealed his weapon and left.

According to the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s office, Sheridan’s cause of death was a perforating gunshot wound to the chest, and lists his exact time of death as 3:44 a.m. Saturday.

The charges against Smith came the day after he turned himself in an was released. After the shooting, Smith told detectives, he and his friends — some of whom were also involved in the altercation — went to the Eat n’ Park in Squirrel Hill. Smith left work early the next afternoon upon seeing a photo of himself on the news, and, after going to the emergency room at West Penn Hospital and telling doctors he hurt himself after passing out, was convinced by his mother and brother to turn himself in.

Smith did just that at the Highland Park police station around 8:45 p.m. Saturday, roughly six hours after the altercation first occurred. He was released, however, early Sunday after the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office did not approve the initial charges against him.

“We just wanted more information before we went forward with a warrant,” spokesman for the District Attorney’s office Mike Manko said.

After a Monday meeting of prosecutors and police, though, they were approved, and Smith is now charged with homicide, aggravated assault and reckless endangerment. From here, says the District Attorney’s office, he will face a preliminary trial.

According to Manko, if found guilty, Smith’s sentencing will be up to the discretion of the presiding judge.