Wilkinsburg Man Sentenced in Ferguson Park Shooting

Duwayne Dixon, 24, of Wilkinsburg has been sentenced to 28 to 56 years in prison for his role in shooting former Homewood resident Andre Ripley on Feb. 28, 2008.

In May 2007, Andre Ripley was shot three times and a 3-month-old baby was shot during a robbery attempt in Ferguson Park. Ripley, now 26, came forward and testified that he was unarmed when shot by Joshua Evans, a Wilkinsburg gang member.

Ten days before Evans' trial date—Feb. 28, 2008, Dixon shot Ripley in the head twice while Ripley was sweeping snow off a neighbor’s car. The investigation into the two shootings ultimately led to the arrest of Joshua Evans, Laron Jones and Duwayne Dixon for the attempt on Ripley’s life. 

Jones and Evans eventually pleaded guilty and earlier this year, after a two-week jury trial in front of Allegheny County Common Pleas Court Judge Williams, a jury convicted Dixon of attempted homicide, conspiracy to commit homicide, aggravated assault, intimidation of a witness and retaliation against a witness. 

________________________

"Like" Patch on Facebook. | Follow us on Twitter. | Sign up for our daily email newsletter.