Raghib Dolphin

Raghib Dolphin, a 24-year-old Black man from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was described by his mother as having a smile that could light up a dark room. Known to his cousin as "Cuddie," Raghib sang in a church choir and was remembered by his family as someone who would have done anything to help another person. On the night he was killed, he was out with friends celebrating a new job he was scheduled to start the very next day.

In the early morning hours of Sunday, February 26, 2017, Raghib was outside Zangaro's Bar on Brighton Road in the city's Brighton Heights neighborhood. According to police, he and two others had been denied entry to the bar because it was after last call. While Raghib was outside talking with someone he knew, witnesses reported hearing as many as eight gunshots. He was struck several times. His friends rushed him to a hospital, but he was pronounced deceased. Shortly before 2 a.m., Raghib had managed to call his mother, Cynthia Simpson. His last words to her were, "mom, I love you mom."

In the weeks and months that followed, Raghib's family held vigils and pleaded for anyone with information to come forward. "Somebody felt the need to swipe his life, but you going to answer to God for that," his mother said. Community meetings were held to address the violence, which resulted in the bar's owner agreeing to add security and make other changes. As she waited for answers, Ms. Simpson held onto memories, looking at pictures of her son and watching videos of him singing at church.

Three months after the shooting, in May 2017, no arrests had been made and no one had come forward with information. The case remains unsolved. A reward of up to $1,000 is offered by Crime Stoppers for information that leads to a conviction. Anyone with information is asked to contact the City of Pittsburgh Bureau of Police Homicide Squad at 412-323-7161 or Crime Stoppers at 412-255-8477.