A Pennsylvania woman and her daughter were killed in an apparent double homicide in Swissvale, according to Allegheny County police.
Police said a man called 911 around 9 a.m. Wednesday saying he was having chest pains. When first responders got to the apartment building in the 7800 block of Sailor Place in Swissvale, there was no answer, and when they got the building manager for help, they went to a different apartment and realized the door was blocked.
Police said officers were called to help medics get into the barricaded apartment around 10:13 a.m. Once they got inside, first responders said they found a woman and girl shot to death.
According to police, a preliminary investigation shows the shooting was a double homicide. The medical examiner identified the victims as 39-year-old Megan Campbell and 7-year-old Lyla Campbell.
“To hear about a 7-year-old being murdered in such a cold-blooded manner, it breaks my heart,” neighbor Delbert Williams said.
Police said they’re looking to just talk to 35-year-old Kareef Antonio Easington, who investigators believe was also staying at the apartment. Police can’t yet say if he’s the one who called 911 claiming to have chest pains, but police haven’t made contact with that caller again to rule it out.
He is not a suspect.
Family members of the victims said Easington is an “estranged family member.” Police said he served in the Army and was stationed in various places, including Alaska and New York. Police have tried to contact him on his cell phone but have been unsuccessful so far.
Williams added that the mother and daughter have lived in a second-floor apartment for several years. So far, no arrests have been made.
Megan Campbell’s friend Tyleda Worou described Megan as always joyful and cheerful. She had a big smile on her face and was always laughing and very full of life. Worou said Megan had just been promoted to director of nursing at her nursing home job.
Her daughter Lyla, Worou says, was an explorer and an inquisitive kid. She enjoyed playing, going to the park and riding her scooter. She was very outgoing.
“Clearly, it’s still an active scene. We still have detectives out, so we’re still knocking on doors and talking to people and trying to collect as much information as we can,” said Allegheny County Police Lt. Venerando Costa.
Anyone with information is asked to call the county police tip line at 1-833-ALL-TIPS. Callers can remain anonymous.
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