Three men were held for trial yesterday in the fatal shooting of a Beltzhoover man during a robbery last month.
City police charged Joseph Gainer, 17, of Mount Washington; Aaron Phillips, 18, of Mount Oliver; and Andrew James Samuels, 18, of Beltzhoover, in the Oct. 17 death of Albert "A.J." Bock, 30.
A friend of Mr. Bock's, Mike Plish, testified at a preliminary hearing before Wilkinsburg District Judge Kim Hoots in City Court that he and two other friends returned to Mr. Bock's house after being at a bar. They were on the porch shortly after 3 a.m. when the three suspects approached the house, Mr. Plish said. Two of Mr. Bock's friends were pistol whipped, and Mr. Gainer shot Mr. Bock once in the neck, Mr. Plish said.
The three teenagers were held on charges of homicide, conspiracy to commit robbery, robbery and illegal possession of firearms.
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