Police: Teens killed 3rd at group home

PITTSBURGH — City police say two teens are responsible for killing a third at a group home for troubled boys last month, and now a district judge must decide whether there’s enough evidence to send those charges to adult court for trial.

Sixteen-year-old Malik Crosby and 15-year-old Yusuf Shepard were scheduled for a preliminary hearing Wednesday afternoon on criminal homicide, assault and conspiracy charges.

Police say they attacked 16-year-old Nicholas Grant at the Circle C Youth and Family Services Group Home on Jan. 10.

Police say both boys beat Grant and Shepard put him in a chokehold while Crosby beat Grant with a vacuum cleaner Grant threw at Shepard during the fight.

Defense attorneys have argued that the suspects were defending themselves or, at least, didn’t start the fight.