WILKINSBURG, PA — Community Mourns the Loss of 18-Year-Old Deglin St. Clair After Fatal Shooting

WILKINSBURG, PA — Community Mourns the Loss of 18-Year-Old Deglin St. Clair After Fatal Shooting

WILKINSBURG, PA — A profound wave of grief and disbelief swept through the tight-knit communities of Wilkinsburg and Pittsburgh’s Larimer neighborhood on the evening of Wednesday, June 18, as word spread of a tragic and senseless act of violence. Authorities confirmed that 18-year-old Deglin St. Clair, a recent high school graduate full of ambition and promise, was the victim of a fatal shooting that has left both neighborhoods in mourning and searching for answers.

The incident occurred just after 6:30 p.m. near the intersection of Wood Street and South Avenue in Wilkinsburg, a residential area often filled with the sounds of everyday life—children playing, neighbors chatting, and families returning home. On this somber evening, however, those familiar sounds were replaced by sirens, stunned silence, and anguished cries from family members who arrived at the scene hoping for a different outcome.

Responding officers found Deglin St. Clair suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Despite the rapid efforts of first responders and EMS personnel, Deglin was pronounced dead at the scene. The Allegheny County Police Department’s Homicide Unit has taken over the investigation, and while no suspects have been publicly identified, detectives are urging anyone with information or video footage to come forward.

Deglin was more than just a statistic—he was a young man beloved by family, respected by peers, and admired by mentors. A resident of Larimer, he had just walked the stage at his high school graduation a few weeks prior and was planning to start trade school in the fall, with dreams of working in automotive technology. Friends remember him as someone who could light up a room with his humor, but also knew when to offer a listening ear or a steady hand.

“He had a vision,” said one of his former teachers at Pittsburgh Westinghouse Academy. “He was working so hard to build a better future for himself and his family. Deglin was a light in our hallways—one of those kids you never forget.”

Community leaders and clergy gathered late into the night on Wednesday, some holding a prayer circle near the scene of the shooting. Reverend Marcus Hill of the Larimer Hope Church described the loss as “a gut punch to a community that has already endured too many funerals.” He called for unity, peace, and stronger community support systems to give young people like Deglin alternatives to the violence that often surrounds them.

In Wilkinsburg, residents placed candles and flowers at a makeshift memorial that began to grow just hours after the shooting. A poster bearing Deglin’s smiling photo read: “We will always remember you, D. Rest easy.”

Deglin is survived by his mother, Tanisha St. Clair, and two younger siblings, ages 12 and 9, who now face a future without their big brother’s love and protection. “He promised me he would make it,” said his mother through tears. “He said he wanted to give his little brother and sister something better. He was on his way. And now… just gone.”

Local organizations, including the Larimer Consensus Group and the Wilkinsburg Youth Project, have already begun offering grief counseling and support services to affected families and teens. A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to help cover Deglin’s funeral expenses and to establish a scholarship in his name for students pursuing vocational training.

Elected officials from the area have expressed their condolences and also renewed calls for action against gun violence. “We cannot grow numb to this,” said Allegheny County Councilmember Olivia Bennett. “Every young life taken is a tragedy that ripples through generations. Deglin deserved a future.”

As the investigation into the shooting continues, the community clings to memories of a young man who loved basketball, hip-hop, fixing bikes for neighborhood kids, and dreaming about one day opening his own garage. In a world that far too often dims the light of promising lives like his, the people of Larimer and Wilkinsburg are determined not to let Deglin St. Clair’s name be forgotten.

A vigil is being planned for this weekend at Paulson Playground, where Deglin often spent time with friends. Organizers hope it will serve not only as a tribute but as a call to collective healing and transformation.

For now, amid sorrow and heartache, one truth remains clear: Deglin’s life mattered—and the legacy of his kindness, ambition, and spirit will not be lost.