Teen charged in fatal shooting in McKees Rocks

Children were playing outside on March 4, when Pittsburgh teenager Tavarius “Pookah” Lee walked down Boquet Street shortly after 5 p.m., authorities said Tuesday.

Lee, 17, of Sheraden, didn’t stop walking as police said he pulled his tan hoodie over his head.

At 5:16 p.m., another teen spotted him.

“Who’s that?” were Ronald Fuller’s last words as Lee pulled out a concealed handgun, according to police.

Fuller quickly pushed a man he was walking with to the side.

Then, Lee — still walking down Boquet Street as he gripped a weapon with two hands — opened fire on the two men, striking Fuller multiple times, according to a criminal complaint. Lee was arrested this week and arraigned Tuesday.

At the time of the shooting, chaos erupted as the gunfire rang out, police said. At least four people, including kids, dropped to the ground for cover.

A neighbor’s dog got caught in the crossfire and was killed after being shot five or six times.

Lee quickly darted behind a gray Jeep whose driver was trying to turn around to avoid the gunfire, police said. Lee continued firing; police later found two spent bullet casings near the vehicle.

Lee then ran into the house at 832 Boquet St., a gun in his waistband, police said. He was trailed by droplets of blood and at least six more spent casings.

The Jeep had been riddled with bullets, sustaining damage to its rear bumper, hatchback, rear windshield, passenger-side tire and the front passenger door, police said. Authorities found two bullet fragments inside the vehicle.

Amid the gunfire, a Boquet Street resident told police they ran to their front porch to corral in the kids, police said.

A man in a hooded sweatshirt — later identified as Lee — pushed his way into the home, the resident said. The resident then forced Lee out the backdoor, locking it behind him.

Fuller was carrying a gun but never fired a shot, the second man told police.

He left blood stains on the sidewalk and street outside 836 Boquet St., as well as a black 9mm, semi-automatic handgun and his black-hooded sweatshirt, police said. At least 15 spent bullet casings formed a trail that crawled up the street.

Medics rushed Fuller to Allegheny General Hospital, where he died less than 45 minutes later.

Police said surveillance footage helped them to identify Lee.

Allegheny County Police charged Lee on March 6 with criminal homicide, aggravated cruelty to animals, four counts of recklessly endangering another person, trespassing, gun possession and gun possession by a minor.

The U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force and Pittsburgh police took Lee into custody during a traffic stop Monday afternoon.

Lee, who is being prosecuted as an adult, was arraigned and remains in the Allegheny County Jail.

A judge on Tuesday denied him bail.

His attorney was not listed Tuesday in court records.