A social evening in an East Hills apartment in Pittsburgh ended with the death of 29-year-old Damien Jackson on the night of September 1, 2022. Jackson had been drinking with his sister and 25-year-old Toddia Smiley when an argument between Jackson and Smiley escalated into a physical confrontation. Smiley told police Jackson had spit on her, hit her and threatened her, saying she fired one shot after she thought she saw him reaching for something. The victim’s sister, who witnessed the shooting, said Jackson had pushed and spit on Smiley but was unarmed and had not threatened her; she said Smiley returned, opened the front door and fired a single shot.

Responding officers found Jackson with a fatal gunshot wound; he was pronounced dead at the scene. Police arrested Smiley and charged her with criminal homicide and tampering with evidence; she was booked into the Allegheny County Jail. In December Smiley, then 28, pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and tampering with evidence, and on April 3, 2025 a judge sentenced her to 5 1/2 to 11 years in state prison followed by nine years of probation. Jackson’s family described him as having an infectious smile who loved his family and friends dearly.

Did anyone in the East Hills neighborhood see or hear anything that night that might clarify what happened?