Friday afternoon in Rankin was shattered by the crackle of gunfire, claiming the life of a young man and sending a wave of grief through the close-knit community. The victim has been identified by the Allegheny County Medical Examiner as 22-year-old Razele Shelton, whose promising future was violently cut short.
The tragedy unfolded around 3:10 p.m. on Duquesne Street near Oak Alley. Allegheny County dispatchers sent emergency crews racing to the scene following reports of shots fired. Officers arrived to a harrowing sight: Shelton lying wounded from a gunshot. Despite the rapid response and his transport to a nearby hospital, he was pronounced dead, leaving a family and community in mourning.
Police investigators, combing through the scene, confirmed the violence of the act, reporting that multiple rounds had been fired. Yet, amidst the barrage, Shelton was struck by a single, fatal bullet. The echoes of those shots have been replaced by a deafening silence and a pressing demand for answers.
As of now, the circumstances that led to the shooting remain shrouded in mystery. Authorities have not released any information about a potential suspect or a motive, leaving a community on edge and a family seeking justice for their beloved Razele.
The Allegheny County Police Department is leading the investigation and is pleading for public assistance. They are urging anyone with information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, to come forward to help piece together the final moments of Razele Shelton’s life. Tips can be provided anonymously to the Allegheny County Police Tip Line at 1-833-ALL-TIPS.
This shooting marks another devastating chapter of violence, a painful reminder of lives lost too soon. As the investigation continues, a neighborhood is left to grapple with an profound loss, remembering the young man whose life ended on a street corner on an otherwise ordinary afternoon.