Three men charged in death of 1-year-old boy caught in Pittsburgh crossfire

Three men were charged in the death of a 1-year-old boy who was shot and killed in a Pittsburgh neighborhood last week.

Police said Andre Crawford, 29; Devon Thompson, 36; and Marvin Hill Jr., 41, were each charged with criminal homicide in the death of Zykier Young on Aug. 24 in the Springfield neighborhood, according to the Pittsburgh Post Gazette.

"This was a senseless crime that didn't have to occur,” said Pittsburgh Public Safety Director Wendell Hissrich during a press conference. "We need the public's help day in and day out to try and prevent these tragedies from happening.”

Police said Zykier was hit with a stray bullet during a shootout among the three men outside, who fired several rounds of shots. A bullet fired outside traveled through two walls, striking Zykier in the head while he was asleep inside his home. He died at a Pittsburgh hospital shortly after the shooting.

Police said Crawford and Hill are in custody and that an arrest warrant has been issued for Thompson. Hill was already being held at a county jail on unrelated outstanding warrants, according to Pittsburgh Police Commander Victor Joseph.

Crawford is also charged with attempted homicide and a firearms violation. He is currently being held at a county jail, and a preliminary hearing for him is scheduled for Sept. 30.

Joseph encouraged the public to help with the investigation.

"Even though we've made some arrests so far, we're moving forward in the case, [but] the investigation is not over," Joseph said. "We still need more help from the community, we still need people to step forward and help us out on this case. As we say time and time again, we can't do this alone. It's a partnership with the community. We need their help. Zykier and his family need your help right now."