Family seeks answers in death of Wilkinsburg mother shot dead before child – CBS Pittsburgh

WILKINSBURG, Pa. (KDKA) – Eight months after a woman was brutally killed in front of her child in Wilkinsburg, a family is asking for the community’s help.

On Friday, Zaviawna Gathers’ family – including her uncle, Mayor Ed Gainey – called the public to help them find their killer.

“This person brutally killed my baby in front of their 7-year-old daughter, my granddaughter,” said Latoya Gathers, Zaviawna’s mother.

In July of last year, police found Gathers dead in her second-story bedroom on Princeton Boulevard. Police said the Gathers daughter was in the house at the time, but the girl was not injured.

Gathers’ grandmother, mother and uncle said there has been no success in finding their killer and they are urging the public to speak out.

“This is my appeal in this case to my niece and to everyone who has lost someone and been murdered. If you know something, come forward,” Gainey said.

CONTINUE READING: 26-year-old mother shot dead in Wilkinsburg townhome

Gainey took to the platform to ask for help not only with the death of his niece but also with others across town.

“I’m just here to talk about my niece, but let me say this: to everyone out there who has lost a loved one and who you know, you know something that’s going on, something that will help the case, something you I said to the deceased that you love him, tell someone.”

Gathers’ mother said she didn’t know why anyone would even consider doing this and reached out to her daughter’s killer.

“I don’t even know how you sleep at night knowing what you’ve done. You should really turn yourself in,” she said.

If you know anything, call the Allegheny County Police Department.

“If anyone knows anything about what happened to her, then you should say something. It’s been too long since my daughter was in the grave and I don’t know why.”