Odell Brown, a 19-year-old Black man from East Liberty, was shot and killed on June 13, 2012, after a morning standoff on the 500 block of North Euclid Avenue in Pittsburgh. The incident began about 9:45 a.m. when neighbors and officers reported Brown acting erratically outside while carrying what appeared to be a firearm. Police and SWAT blocked nearby streets and told residents to stay inside as officers spent roughly 90 minutes trying to get him to drop the weapon.

Shortly before 11 a.m., Allegheny County Sheriff’s Deputy Sean Green shot Brown in the chest after Brown allegedly pointed the weapon toward him and refused repeated commands to drop it. Brown was taken to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital and later died. Officials later confirmed the weapon was a gun-like pellet gun that looked realistic from officers’ positions. The case was described by the police chief as appearing to be suicide by police officer; the district attorney sought a grand jury review. Brown’s mother questioned whether family might have de-escalated the situation if given a chance.

If anyone saw what happened that morning or has information about the standoff, please share what is known.