Craig Summers

On a warm summer evening in Pittsburgh, Craig Gerald Summers, a 47-year-old African-American man from the city's North Side, was spending time with several other people on a porch. The night of Friday, August 4, 2017, would tragically be his last. His death left a void in the community and a case that continues to seek answers and justice.

The setting was the 2500 block of Maple Avenue in the Perry South neighborhood, an area also known as Perry Hilltop. Shortly after 11:00 p.m., the sound of gunfire shattered the night's calm. Pittsburgh Police officers were dispatched to the scene around 11:10 p.m. following reports of shots fired. When they arrived, they discovered Mr. Summers on the porch of a vacant, condemned building. He had been shot at least once and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The investigation by Pittsburgh Police homicide detectives revealed that the porch was not empty when the fatal shots were fired. According to authorities, Mr. Summers was with a group of people, and they were playing cards together just before the shooting occurred. Despite this, when police arrived, the other individuals who had been there were gone. This lack of witnesses at the scene became an immediate and significant hurdle for investigators trying to piece together the events that led to the homicide.

In the months following the killing, detectives struggled to develop leads, unable to identify a suspect or a clear motive for the crime. The case grew cold, prompting a public appeal for information. In December 2017, Pittsburgh Police Sgt. William Vollberg spoke about the crucial need for those present to come forward. "We know there were several people on the porch of this unoccupied home playing cards at the time of the shooting," he stated. "We want to know the names of the people who were on the porch with Summers that night, so we can continue with the investigation." This plea underscored the belief that the key to solving the case lies with the individuals who were with Mr. Summers in his final moments.

The investigation remains open, and authorities are still seeking the public's help to break the silence that has surrounded this case for years. As of the last public reports in December 2017, no arrests have been made, and the circumstances of Craig Summers' death remain a mystery. His case is one of several unsolved homicides from that year in Allegheny County, a year that saw a troubling number of violent deaths.

To encourage potential witnesses to step forward, Pittsburgh Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of up to $1,000 for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the murder of Craig Summers. Police urge anyone with information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, to contact them. Tips can be directed to the Pittsburgh Police homicide squad at (412) 323-7800 or to the Pittsburgh Crime Stoppers tip line at 412-255-8477.