Men Charged for Killing 5 in BBQ Slaying

Two men with ties to drug gangs have been charged with slaughtering five people and an unborn child at a backyard cookout in a Pittsburgh suburb, more than three months after the March 9 mass shooting that had stumped investigators. Allegheny County prosecutors said Wednesday they have charged Cheron Shelton, 29, and Robert Thomas, 27, with five counts of homicide, six counts of aggravated assault, six counts of recklessly endangering another person, conspiracy, and criminal homicide of an unborn child. One of the women who was killed was eight months pregnant. Officials said two informants helped bring charges in the case, after Shelton allegedly told Thomas: “I’m trying to treat them like the Jews; I’m trying to eliminate their whole blood lines.” Police said Thomas entered the cookout from behind the backyard with a .40-caliber pistol and fired more than 18 bullets. As the victims fled, Shelton reportedly approached from the other side with an assault rifle and fired 30 shots.