Deon Traylor, a 41-year-old Black man from Pittsburgh, was shot in the head at his Bayridge Avenue apartment on October 28, 2016, after an argument over a $20 drug debt. The argument was with 25-year-old Michael Frye of Elliott; Traylor had asked Frye to make several drug deals and Frye said he came up $20 short. Frye pulled a gun and shot Traylor. Traylor was taken to UPMC Mercy in critical condition and later declared brain dead, with life support removed.

After the shooting, Frye took $500, 11 grams of cocaine, one brick of heroin, and a safe from Traylor’s home, and hid the safe on his apartment building’s roof. Frye was arrested and charged with third-degree murder. The case underscores how a small dispute over drugs escalated to deadly violence and had devastating consequences for the victim and his circle.

If anyone knew Deon, his routines, or has information about the events that night, please share what is known.