Rodney Poindexter

Rodney Darnell Poindexter, a 32-year-old African-American man from Duquesne, Pennsylvania, was a man whose life was cut tragically short in the early morning hours of Wednesday, February 7, 2007. Born on November 29, 1974, Rodney was a father of five children: Tichina, Kilisse, Myhkil, Rodney Jr., and Destiny. He was known as a talented musician and songwriter and was a member of the Mt. Ararat Baptist Church. His sudden death left a void in the lives of his family and friends who continue to seek justice.

The night he was killed, Rodney was at the 7101 Lounge, a bar on Frankstown Avenue in Pittsburgh’s Homewood neighborhood. Just before 2:00 a.m., an altercation broke out inside the busy establishment. According to police reports, security personnel at the bar began working to break up the fight and disperse the crowd that had gathered. Pittsburgh police officers arrived at the scene to assist security with the chaotic situation.

As officers were managing the crowd, a report came in that a man was down outside the bar. They found Rodney near the corner of North Lang Avenue and Forest Way, suffering from a single gunshot wound to his abdomen. The events that led from the initial fight inside the lounge to the shooting outside remain unclear. Paramedics rushed Rodney to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital for emergency treatment, but his injury was too severe. He was pronounced dead at 2:40 a.m.

The investigation into Rodney Poindexter’s murder was launched immediately by Pittsburgh homicide detectives. The area around the 7101 Lounge was a complex crime scene, with many potential witnesses having been present for the initial disturbance. In the days following the shooting, police made a public appeal for assistance, urging anyone who was at the bar and might have seen the fight or the shooting to come forward with information. Despite the numerous people present, investigators struggled to get a clear account of what happened and who was responsible.

In the years since Rodney's death, his case has grown cold, and no arrests have ever been made. His family was left with unanswered questions and the enduring pain of their loss. His children grew up without their father, and a killer has remained free. The Homewood neighborhood, an area that has contended with its share of violence, lost another member of its community. Rodney's death is a somber reminder of the devastating impact of a single act of violence.

The case of Rodney Poindexter’s homicide remains open but inactive. His final resting place is at Restland Memorial Park in Monroeville, Pennsylvania. Pittsburgh Police homicide detectives continue to seek any information that could lead to a breakthrough in this long-unsolved case. Anyone with knowledge about the shooting that occurred at the 7101 Lounge on February 7, 2007, is asked to contact the homicide squad at 412-323-7161. The family continues to hope that one day, justice will be served for Rodney.