Shooting suspect released

Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala Jr. called an emergency press… Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala Jr. called an emergency press conference to announce that on Thursday afternoon, police would release one of the suspects in the Sept. 17 Duquesne shooting.

Zappala said 19-year-old Brandon Baynes, who had been in custody since Sept. 19, “could not have been the second gunman,” after a thorough investigation by all agencies involved.

Police released Baynes after the only witness who had originally identified him retracted his statement.

In his place, police arrested Derek Lee of the North Side yesterday and charged him with five counts each of both aggravated assault and criminal attempt, and one count each of criminal conspiracy, criminal intent and carrying a firearm without a license.

The police also arrested Erica Renee Sager of Wilkinsburg on Wednesday evening in connection with the shooting and charged her with five counts of aggravated assault and one count of criminal solicitation. Neither Sager nor Lee are Duquesne students, but both attended Penn Hills High School together.

According to Zappala, Sager told Lee and Holmes to shoot the group of basketball players following an altercation between the team members and the suspects.

Baynes’ attorney, Sumner Parker, said his client had shown up to the dance, which was sponsored by Duquesne’s Black Student Union, with Derek Lee. Parker also stated that he does not believe his client knew Lee was carrying a concealed weapon.

Baynes, of Penn Hills, who had been taking summer classes in order to graduate before the incident, will now return to his classes, his attorney said.