Pittsburgh police said Tristan Taylor, 18, died while walking back from a balloon release honoring the life of his cousin, Jo\u2019Markius Fuller,<\/a> who was gunned down exactly eight years prior.<\/p>\n Inside of Jokima Brown\u2019s home, you\u2019ll find graduation balloons still intact, three weeks after her son, Tristan, graduated from Allderdice High School.<\/p>\n Recent Allderdice graduate remembered as hardworking, kind after East Hills shooting Tristan Taylor, 18, died while walking back from a balloon release honoring the life of his cousin. (WPXI\/WPXI)<\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t take anything down. That was just the best day,\u201d Brown said. \u201cHe walked across the stage, and that was the proudest moment.\u201d<\/p>\n Recent Allderdice graduate remembered as hardworking, kind after East Hills shooting Tristan Taylor, 18, died while walking back from a balloon release honoring the life of his cousin. (WPXI\/WPXI)<\/p>\n But on Tuesday night, Tristan and his family were walking home from the balloon release. Brown said they started to pass a group of kids, who began taunting Tristan and other members of her family.<\/p>\n \u201cTristan was not threatening anybody. He even said, he\u2019s like, \u2018Man, chill bro, I\u2019m trying to go home.\u2019 The next thing I know, he\u2019s standing beside me, and the boy shoots him,\u201d Brown said.<\/p>\n Tristan was shot multiple times, taking his last breath inside of his aunt\u2019s home nearby.<\/p>\n \u201cI kept screaming, \u2018Tristan \u2013 fight, fight,\u2019 and he was trying,\u201d Brown said. \u201cI told my sister, \u2018I had to see you go through it.\u2019 She\u2019s like, \u2018And now I have to be strong for you.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n The family is struggling to come to terms with yet another loss. They take comfort, however, in knowing that Tristan, Jo\u2019Markius, and Jonathan – who died by suicide at the age of 10 shortly after Jo\u2019Markius\u2019s death – are now together.<\/p>\n \u201cHe worked. He went to school. He was at my sister\u2019s with my mom reading Bible scriptures,\u201d Brown said. \u201cI hate that my son\u2019s life had to be a result of being caught up in [this] because I don\u2019t know where all of this is stemming from.\u201d<\/p>\n Brown says she hopes that justice is soon served and will forever hold one specific picture close to her heart. It was taken right before Tristan passed away.<\/p>\n \u2018[It\u2019s] the last picture of my child \u2013 I\u2019m going to cherish that,\u201d Brown said.<\/p>\n Recent Allderdice graduate remembered as hardworking, kind after East Hills shooting An East Hills family is grieving after an 18-year-old son, brother, grandson and nephew was shot and killed in his neighborhood Tuesday night. (WPXI\/WPXI)<\/p>\n At last check, Pittsburgh police have not made any arrests, but the investigation is ongoing.<\/p>\n Pittsburgh Public Schools issued the following statement to its community:<\/p>\n \u201cWe are deeply saddened to learn of the tragic death of Tristan Taylor, a member of the Pittsburgh Allderdice Class of 2026. Tristan was the victim of a shooting that occurred in the East Hills neighborhood of Pittsburgh on Tuesday evening.<\/p>\n Tristan is remembered as a quiet, friendly, respectful, and hardworking young man with a great smile. He graduated with honors, participated in the Start on Success program while working at the Omni Hotel, and planned to attend CCAC in the fall to pursue business.<\/p>\n Those who knew Tristan describe him as the kind of student who could befriend anyone. He was always willing to listen, support others, and make those around him feel seen, whether he had known them for years or had just met them.<\/p>\n Pittsburgh Public Schools cares deeply about the devastating impact gun violence has on our students, families, and community. Our hearts are with Tristan\u2019s family, friends, classmates, and the entire Pittsburgh Allderdice school community during this incredibly difficult time.\u201d<\/p>\n Download the FREE WPXI News app<\/a> for breaking news alerts.<\/p>\n Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook<\/a> and Twitter<\/a>. | Watch WPXI NOW<\/a><\/p>\n TOP STORIES FROM CHANNEL 11 NEWS <\/p>\n \u00a92026 Cox Media Group<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/https:\/\/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com\/cmg\/AADBTOSUH5AP3EMWCVROGSNDUA.jpeg\")
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