[the]... shooting, which occurred shortly before 8 p.m. Thursday, resulted in the death of Thomas C. Holmes, 44, of Fairview Street.

County homicide Sgt. Jeffrey Korczyk said witnesses heard three or four gunshots in Holmes' neighborhood. Shortly thereafter, Holmes frantically ran up to a man as he was entering his home at 637 Madison Ave., a half-block from Holmes' home, and said, "Please help me. They're trying to shoot me."

The man, who told police it appeared Holmes had been shot and was bleeding, feared for the safety of his 9-year-old daughter inside. He told Holmes he would call 911 and went inside his home.

The resident had his back to the door when he heard three or four shots fired very close to his home. In fact, Korczyk said, the man said his door shook when it was struck by a slug from a .380-caliber semiautomatic.

"Had it been a higher caliber weapon, the bullet would have gone through the door and he would have been shot in the back," Korczyk said.

The man opened the door to see Holmes lying there.

Michael Fuoco's article goes on to report this curious detail:

A police officer happened by just as the man was calling 911. Medics were summoned but Holmes, who was shot as many as six times, including twice in the head, died at the scene.

Along with the McKeesport police officer who "happened by" the crime scene, there were several other witnesses at or near the 600 block of Madison Street. None of those people reported seeing a 20-year-old with a silver gun, and yet one week after the shooting, on Thursday January 16, Joseph Rhone was charged with the crime. That same day, he more or less confessed to the murder.

Joseph Rhone's confession was odd because he gave no motive for the killing of Tom Holmes.

But on January 9, mere hours after the murder, one McKeesport Police officer was quick to point out that the January 8 arrest of Rhone's half-sister may have involved information secretly supplied to police by Tom Holmes. The officer suggested this as Rhone's motive for murder. The logical question, "who informed on the informant?" was left unanswered, but clearly, it was one particular officer that first connected the victim to Joseph Rhone.

That officer is the same policeman who was supposedly on routine patrol the night of January 9. His name is Detective Joseph Osinski, but he didn't just "happen by" the 600 block of Madison -- he was driving specifically to that address.

In fact, moments before Tom Holmes was gunned down, Officer Osinski had called him to arrange an immediate meeting on the corner -- the corner of the 600 block of Madison Street.

Joe Osinski confirms that he heard screams. He says the street was "dimly lit", but he admits seeing a resident at 637 Madison refuse Tommy entry and slam the door. According to the resident, immediately after he shut his front door, he heard 4 or 5 shots fired very close to his home.

Logically, Osinski must know who the shooter is, but the detective claims he saw no shooter and heard no shots. The resident, who opened his door after the gunfire, claims he saw no one but the officer. The other neighbors and witnesses to the killing all claim to have seen no one, to know nothing, and to have no answer to the question...

Who murdered Tommy Holmes?