AMBRIDGE ― A man has been arrested after police said he was involved in the Sunday killing of an Ambridge teen.
Investigators have charged 18-year-old Nasean Hunt, of Ambridge, with criminal homicide after they said he stalked and killed 15-year-old Asaun Moreland on the evening of July 9. Beaver County District Attorney David Lozier announced the charges Tuesday morning, saying Hunt and another unnamed individual shot the teen “execution style.”
“Multiple citizens immediately described two shooters having stalked Mr. Moreland through Ambridge,” Lozier said. “These citizens advise that the shooters approached Mr. Moreland on Church Street, shot him four times, then the witnesses followed the shooters back through Ambridge.”
According to the police report, there were several witnesses to the shooting who saw Moreland run into the road near Church Street. After he entered the street, several gunshots were heard in the area and Moreland fell to the ground. At this time, two men dressed in dark clothing and masks were seen fleeing the scene and attempting to conceal firearms within their mid-sections.
As the men fled toward Wagner Street, some of the witnesses began to give chase and tracked the men as they entered 601 Olive Lane, where investigators later confirmed Hunt was living. Officers established a perimeter around the building, with the Beaver County Emergency Services Unit later entering the building and detaining Hunt inside the residence.
Hunt then was escorted to a police vehicle where he gave false identification to officers. After discovering the attempted deception, Hunt was taken into police custody as the investigation into the shooting continued.
After obtaining a warrant to search the apartments, officers reported a handgun was found inside the building’s common area. An additional handgun and a set of “wet black clothing” were also found near the rear door of an apartment. Officers also reviewed nearby video footage, which they said shows Hunt and another unnamed individual removing clothing that matched witnesses’ descriptions of the shooters’ clothes on the west side of the building.
After compiling this evidence, investigators charged Hunt with criminal homicide and conspiracy on Tuesday morning. Hunt also faces additional charges for carrying a firearm without a license, evading arrest, tampering with evidence and providing a false identification to police.
Police are still searching for the second individual involved, who they have not yet identified to the public. Anybody with information on the shooting or this person’s location is asked to call the Ambridge Police Department at 724-266-5977.
Reward for information in Aliquippa shooting raised to $10,000
In addition to the developments in Ambridge, investigators announced the reward for information in the fatal shooting of 15-year-old Dahvea Sparrow, just the day before Moreland’s death in nearby Aliquippa, has been increased.
Lozier said police are still seeking information on the murder of Sparrow. After announcing Sparrow’s death, members of the Beaver County Crime Solvers said they would be offering a one-week reward of $5,000 for information that would lead to an arrest and conviction.
On Tuesday, it was announced the reward for information has now been increased to $10,000 after the Aliquippa School District matched the reward amount. The reward from the school district comes after Aliquippa’s Superintendent Phillip Woods, who also identified himself as a cousin of Sparrow, spoke on the impact the young man had on the community.
“It’s rare that it hits this close to home, being a relative and a family member, but I want to take the titles off,” Woods said. “This was a young man who was becoming part of our village.”
Callers can anonymously contact the Crime Solvers at 724-774-2000 or the Pennsylvania State Police Beaver Barracks at 724-773-7400 to share information related to the shooting.
At this time, the incidents in Aliquippa and Ambridge are believed to be isolated incidents and Lozier has stated that there is “insufficient evidence” to identify a relationship between the two shootings. Police do believe the crimes are part of a larger juvenile crime problem observed throughout the region and are calling on communities to remain vigilant of young people in their neighborhoods.
“We have been talking for months about how we have the juvenile crime crisis,” Lozier said. “This is not just Beaver County, this is all Southwestern Pennsylvania. We have young juveniles with guns, they’re stealing cars, committing robberies and committing assaults. And we’re doing everything we can as law enforcement, but we need the citizens’ help to help us identify where they are and who they are.”