Late on May 24, 2016, 40-year-old Thomas Jr. Cheeks was shot and killed inside his Steuben Street home in Pittsburgh’s Crafton Heights neighborhood during a violent home invasion. Two masked intruders forced entry through the rear of the house shortly after 11 p.m. Cheeks was inside with his wife and teenage son; the wife was reportedly held at gunpoint and the son hid in a closet. The intruders shot and kill the family dog, then shot Cheeks in the torso or chest. He was pronounced dead at the scene and the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled the death a homicide by gunshot wounds.

Cheeks was a well-known local barbershop owner remembered by neighbors and customers as generous and caring; one business owner recalled he once gave free haircuts to an entire wedding party. Investigators said the men fled before police arrived and early reports gave only that two men were involved. Authorities believed cash taken from Cheeks’ earnings that day was taken, but no clear motive beyond robbery was established. By November 2016 the family had offered a $5,000 reward and Crime Stoppers had also posted a reward; available reports stated no arrests or charges had been made.

If anyone knew who these two men were or has information about that night, please come forward.