Dec 27, 2013 2 min read

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Washington & Jefferson College football players were “surprised and relieved” in August upon learning city police had made three arrests in a robbery that ended in the death of a popular member of the team.

Those were the words expressed by Alex Baroffio, a senior wide receiver, adding his teammates were also happy police made headway in the homicide investigation into the death of Timothy McNerney of Butler.

Investigators used a global-positioning system to trace a cellphone stolen from McNerney on Oct. 4, 2012, to one of the suspects, and use that information to seek arrests.

McNerney, 21, and another player were allegedly assaulted by the suspects that morning as they walked back to campus after leaving a local tavern. McNerney, 21, who was a senior running back for the W&J Presidents, died from an injury to the back of his head suffered when he was knocked to the ground near South College and East Maiden streets.

Awaiting trial in the case in Washington County Court on charges of homicide, theft, robbery and conspiracy are: Adam R. Hankins, 24, of 348 Houston St., Washington; Troy LaMonte Simmons Jr., 23, of East Pittsburgh; and Eric Dante Wells, 25, of Pittsburgh and formerly of Washington. They are jailed without bond.