Police: Fatal shot fired over keys
Joshua Jamar Moss
Trooper Robin Mungo addresses the media Monday after Joshua Jamar Moss was arrested for allegedly shooting and killing his cousin, Robert Edward Kramer Jr., in Westland Sunday.
An apparent argument over a set of vehicle keys ended Sunday night with the death of a Westland man and the arrest of his cousin, who is accused of firing the fatal shot with a 30-gauge shotgun.
Joshua Jamar Moss, 28, of 151 Meadow St., Westland, was arraigned before District Judge Larry Hopkins on charges of homicide and persons not to possess a firearm, filed by state police in the death of Robert Edward Kramer Jr., 22, of 153 Meadow St., Mt. Pleasant Township. Kramer was pronounced dead at the scene of a gunshot wound to his chest by Washington County Coroner Tim Warco.
The shooting occurred about 7:50 p.m. in the street outside the duplex. Trooper Robin Mungo, a public information officer for Troop B, said Kramer lived on one side of the unit while Moss lived on the other side. Mungo, who addressed the media at an impromptu press conference Monday morning at the barracks, said about 15 to 20 people gathered at the duplex for a cookout.
Trooper Douglas Rush, who filed the charges, said a woman wanted the keys that Moss reportedly had, but did not remember having in his possession.
“They started jawing at each other,” said Rush, adding the two had been drinking.
Mt. Pleasant police initially responded to the shooting. When township police Officer Amanda Brewer arrived, she was told by several people that Moss had shot his cousin and that he was being detained by family members. The shotgun was taken from Moss and placed on the back porch of a house across the street. Brewer retrieved the shotgun and saw that one discharged shell was still in the weapon. Moss also reportedly made several statements to Brewer that he had shot his cousin.
Moss told state police that he and his family were having a cookout. He told Rush that he and Kramer got into an argument that turned physical. Moss first pulled a knife on Kramer, but that was taken off of him when they were separated by family members, police said.
Moss reportedly went to his bedroom on the second floor of his home and retrieved the single-shot shotgun, put one shell inside and went outside to confront Kramer, police said. Moss told police that he left the front of his house, encountering Kramer. The two reportedly started arguing again. Moss reportedly raised the shotgun, pointed it at Kramer, cocked the hammer and pulled the trigger, police said. The shot hit Kramer on the left side of the chest.
Rush said Moss admitted to the shooting. The 28-year-old reportedly made several statements to police, saying, “I killed my cousin; this should have never happened.”
Two men and the victim’s mother were injured and transported to Canonsburg Hospital by Fort Cherry Ambulance for treatment of what was described by investigators as stress-related issues.
Also taken into custody was Tyara R. Dorsey, 23, of 20 BelAir Drive, Canton Township. She reportedly refused state police orders to leave the crime scene about two hours after the shooting. She was taken to the ground by troopers when she became disorderly.
Moss, who is being held in Washington County jail without bond, is awaiting further court action on charges of simple assault, defiant trespass, harassment and criminal mischief filed by Canonsburg police stemming from a March 2015 incident. He is accused of assaulting a woman at her Valley View Terrace home and breaking her cellphone.
Dorsey was arraigned before Hopkins on charges of resisting arrest and disorderly conduct. She is in jail on $25,000 bond.
Both will have preliminary hearings before District Judge Traci McDonald.