West Mifflin, Pennsylvania — A 27-year-old man is facing a criminal homicide charge after police say he shot and killed his girlfriend’s new boyfriend during a late-night visit to the apartment they had shared.
Richard Jetter was charged in connection with the death of 29-year-old Omar Poole, who was fatally shot inside the West Mifflin residence, a borough located about 10 miles southeast of Pittsburgh.
According to authorities, Jetter had gone to the apartment to collect his belongings as his relationship with the woman was coming to an end. Instead, police say he encountered Poole inside the home and the situation quickly turned deadly.
Police Say Jetter Found Poole Inside the Apartment
The incident happened around midnight Monday after Jetter had reportedly been living at the apartment with a woman for about a year. The woman told investigators she was “in the process of breaking up” with Jetter and was also “getting back together” with Poole.
Earlier that night, she had apparently invited Poole to the apartment. Jetter had been communicating with the woman about returning to the residence to collect “his stuff.”
According to the Allegheny County Police Department’s investigation, Poole was inside the apartment taking food from a bag from a Sheetz convenience store and placing it into the refrigerator when Jetter entered.
The woman reportedly told investigators there were “no arguments or speaking” between the men before the shooting.
Poole Was Shot Multiple Times
Police allege that Jetter shot Poole multiple times in the torso and leg. Jetter then called 911, and emergency responders rushed Poole to a local hospital.
Despite the emergency response, Poole was pronounced dead less than an hour after the shooting. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the victim as Omar Poole.
Investigators later detained Jetter, who provided authorities with his account of what happened inside the apartment.
Jetter Claims He Was Defending Himself
Jetter reportedly told investigators that he had been texting the woman Sunday about picking up his belongings. He said he did not know why Poole was inside the apartment and claimed that Poole “was going for his gun.”
Jetter also reportedly told authorities “he was defending himself, his home and his daughter.” Investigators said they found the Sheetz bag Poole had been carrying with brown and red staining.
Jetter and the woman’s daughter reportedly lived at the apartment, although it remains unclear whether the child was present when the shooting occurred.
The woman was apparently not in the room at the time of the shooting.
Neighbor Heard Question After Shooting
Detectives also spoke with another witness who lived nearby. The neighbor reportedly heard a man ask after the shooting:
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“Why is he here?”
Investigators continued working to establish what happened immediately before and during the shooting as Jetter’s account and other evidence were examined.
The case remains a criminal proceeding, and the allegations against Jetter have not been proven in court.
Jetter Remains in Jail Without Bail
Jetter was booked into the Allegheny County Jail, where he was being held without bail. He appeared for a preliminary arraignment Monday and is scheduled to have a preliminary hearing on Oct. 16. He faces a criminal homicide charge along with additional allegations connected to the incident.
The deadly confrontation comes amid a breakup that investigators say was already underway, with Jetter returning to the apartment to retrieve his belongings when he allegedly encountered Poole.
Authorities have not indicated that the two men had a documented confrontation before the shooting, and investigators are continuing to examine the circumstances surrounding the encounter.
The investigation and court proceedings are expected to shed more light on what happened inside the apartment that night. What are your thoughts on this case? Share your reaction in the comments below.
