No arrests imminent in shooting as probe continues
Editor’s note- Jamaal Greene, questioned by police but not charged in connection with the shooting death of Alexis Barnett, reportedly gave police an incorrect address, which was reported in Saturday’s edition. Greene does not live in Jollick Manor. His last known address was on Church Street in Washington.
The Washington police chief said Friday no arrests are imminent in Wednesday night’s shooting that left a 19-year-old woman dead and injured her 21-year-old friend.
Alexis Barnett, 19, of Washington, was pronounced dead at Washington Hospital after she was shot in the back while walking in the 1100 block of Bruce Street. Jasmine Young, 21, also of Washington, was treated at UPMC-Presbyterian hospital in Pittsburgh for a gunshot wound to her lower left leg and released Thursday morning.
Washington police Chief Robert Wilson said Friday there was nothing new to report in the investigation.
Two men were taken into custody Thursday afternoon at a Canton Township housing complex and questioned by investigators. Shawn Sessoms, 20, who has addresses on Fayette Street and in New York City, and Jamaal Greene, 18, were picked up at Belvedere Acres. Neither has been charged in the murder, but both are in Washington County jail on other charges.
The two women were walking with friends about 9:40 p.m. on Bruce toward Maple Avenue when the shots were fired. Investigators were trying to determine if the shots were fired from a small, silver vehicle seen in the area at the time.
City police Lt. Daniel Stanek said Thursday neither woman was a target, and that a man who was walking with the group was the likely target. He is cooperating with police, Stanek said.
Sessoms was arrested on a warrant obtained by the Washington County District Attorney’s Drug Task Force. Greene is in jail on a probation violation.
Sessoms, who is also known as Sean Johnson, was charged Thursday by the task force with possession and possession with intent to deliver heroin. Sessoms is accused of delivering heroin to a confidential informant.
Detectives were not able to find a photograph of Sessoms or Johnson in either Pennsylvania or New York law enforcement records. Task force detectives were able to confirm that Sessoms and Johnson are the same person through photos on Facebook.
A detective asked Sessoms if Sean Johnson was his real name, and he replied that his real name was Shawn Anthony Sessoms. He also reportedly used the name Dominique Rosser during a traffic stop.
Sessoms was arraigned Thursday night before District Judge James Ellis on the drug charges, and bond was set at $50,000. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing May 19 before District Judge Robert Redlinger.
Greene pleaded guilty last month before Judge Michael Lucas on charges of possession of heroin and paraphernalia in connection with a Feb. 7 traffic stop by city police in the 1300 block of Tube Alley. Police had received a complaint of possible drug activity in the area and found the heroin. Two other Washington men who were with him also were arrested. Greene was placed on 24 months of probation when he entered the plea April 8.