Pittsburgh, PA (PPP)— A Pittsburgh man licensed to carry and conceal a firearm has been arrested in connection to a fatal shooting that occurred on Banksville Road and Crane Avenue in Pittsburgh on March 13, 2023.

The victim, identified as Richard Derkach, was shot in the chest and later died at Allegheny General Hospital. According to police reports, several 9-1-1 calls were received about the shooting, and responding officers observed that Derkach sustained at least one gunshot wound to the chest.

The suspect vehicle was identified as a silver Ford Ranger, and the victim vehicle was identified as a maroon mini-van, with the victim clad in red.

Detectives located a city-operated Genetec camera, which captured the entirety of the shooting. The footage shows Derkach walking towards the driver’s side of the truck, speaking to the driver, swatting forward, and then wincing backward.

Derkach then turned to run back to the direction that he originally came from, while hunching forward and reaching toward the area of his chest. The license plate on the suspect vehicle was determined to be registered to Connor Cusick Makstutis.

Makstutis later reported to the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police Headquarters. His vehicle was found parking lot with the firearm inside.

Name: Connor Cusick Makstutis
Gender: Male
Age: 23

Agency:

Court: Magisterial District Court 05-0-03
Docket Number: MJ-05003-CR-0001425-2023
Date Filed: March 13, 2023

Bail: Denied
Confinement: Allegheny County Jail
Confinement Reason: Bail denied

Criminal Charges

1. Criminal homicide (H1)

Affidavit of Probable Cause
Your affiants, Detective Janine N. Triolo and Detective Edward A. Fallert, are currently employed as a sworn members of the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, assigned to the Violent Crimes Unit/Homicide. Your affiants have been police officers for a combined total of forty-four years and as detectives for approximately thirty-one of those years. Your affiants have been involved in numerous arrests and investigations into violations of the Pennsylvania Crimes Code. Your affiants have also conducted numerous narcotics and vice related investigations, to include hand-to-hand narcotics transactions and prostitution reversal operations. Your affiants have assisted with preparation and execution of several search warrants with other sworn members of the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police. In addition to the standard mandated training through the Municipal Police Officers Education and Training Commission, your affiants have also attended several additional trainings (to include Bloodstain Pattern and Gunshot Wound Training; Pennsylvania State Police’s Top Gun; Advanced Vice and Narcotics Investigations; Undercover Operations and Confidential Source Management Seminar; The Wolf and the Raven: PCP and Club Drugs; Interviewing Courses, to include Reid Interviewing; Conducting Officer Involved Shooting Investigations; Gang Related Robbery and Homicide Investigations; Hunting the Hunter: An Interdisciplinary Investigation Into Serial Killers; and Cellular Analysis Survey Team Training Course). Your affiants have also worked in conjunction with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office.

On 03/13/2023 at 1648 hours, the Allegheny County Emergency Operations Center received several 9-1-1 calls for service indicating that a shooting occurred in the area of Banksville Road and Crane Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15216; which is located in the Banksville neighborhood within Zone 6 of the City of Pittsburgh. Information was received that both vehicles involved fled toward the direction of Downtown, which is northbound. The suspect vehicle was identified as a silver Ford Ranger. The victim vehicle was identified as a maroon mini-van, with the victim clad in red. Several Zone 6 Officers responded to the area of the shooting, to include Officers Tessmer, Bush, Piscitella, Feist, and Senkinc. The victim was identified as Richard Derkach. Responding officers observed that Derkach sustained at least one gunshot wound to the chest. Medic Unit 3 arrived on scene and transported Derkach to Allegheny General Hospital and Officer Bush followed. Medical staff attempted to render aid to Derkach. Despite medical efforts, Derkach succumbed to his injury and was pronounced deceased at 1755 by Dr. Noorbaksh.

Real Time Crime Center Detective Murphy located a city operated Genetec camera, which was located in the area of Banksville Road and Crane Avenue, which captured the entirety of the shooting.

A silver pick-up truck with a blue tailgate was traveling northbound on Banksville Road and stopped at the intersection of Banksville Road and Crane Avenue. Upon stopping, a dark colored vehicle stopped behind the truck. A person clad in a reddish-orange sweat suit approached the driver side of the truck. As this person, later determined to be victim Derkach, approached the truck, the truck pulled forward slightly and then stopped. While walking toward the truck; Derkach’s hands can be viewed at times and appear to be empty. As Derkach approached the vehicle, it appeared as though he was speaking to the driver of the vehicle. While near the driver window of the truck, Derkach can be viewed swatting forward and then wincing backward. He then turned to run back to the direction that he originally came from, while hunching forward and reaching toward the area of his chest.

The license plate on the suspect vehicle was determined to be ████. Upon running this license plate through J-Net, it was determined to be registered to Connor Cusick Makstutis.

Affiant Triolo responded to the scene. Upon arrival, Affiant Triolo was instructed to responded to Allegheny General Hospital. While en route to Allegheny General Hospital, Affiant Triolo was advised by Sergeant Glick that the shooter had reported to Pittsburgh Bureau of Police Headquarters. He was identified as Connor Cusick Makstutis. Detectives Patterson and Shaw learned that Makstutis was involved in the shooting and his vehicle was parked in the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police Headquarters parking lot, with the firearm inside. Affiant Triolo observed that this vehicle was parked in a handicapped spot in the upper lot and requested that a Zone 1 Unit respond in order to secure the vehicle.

Connor Cusick Mastutis does possess a valid concealed carry permit at number 02-001752&5.

Based upon the aforementioned information, to which your affiants believe to be true and correct, your affiants respectfully request that an arrest warrant be issued for Connor Cusick Makstutis to answer to the following charge: Criminal Homicide.