Homestead man slain at Indiana County party was aspiring rapper; no arrests made

Renatta Signorini, Tribune-Review, Greensburg, Pa.
Updated ·3 min read

Oct. 9—A Homestead man and aspiring rapper was shot fatally during a party at the Chevy Chase Community Center in Indiana County over the weekend.

The county coroner identified him as Jamar M. Porterfield Herriot Jr., 22.

Porterfield Herriot was shot just after midnight Sunday when dozens of rounds were fired at the White Township center, wounding at least eight others, police said. More than 150 people raced out of the building to escape the gunfire while state troopers and municipal police helped the injured.

Six remained hospitalized Monday, including an 18-year-old man from Chicago who was in critical condition Sunday, according to Trooper Cliff Greenfield.

State police believe there was more than one shooter. No arrests had been made. Authorities said Monday they continue to investigate but released no other details.

Several messages left for members of Porterfield Herriot's family, friends or associates were not returned. Greenfield said they were requesting privacy over safety concerns.

A person who identified themselves as a relative and declined to speak to a Tribune-Review reporter said Porterfield Herriot was an aspiring rapper under the name Duece Pap. Several rap videos under that name were posted in the past year or so on a YouTube page and on Instagram.

------

Related:

—Vigil attendees, IUP students express shock, fear over nearby off-campus shooting

—1 dead, at least 8 others injured in mass shooting at Indiana County party

—Fatal shooting stuns Indiana County community as police search for suspects

—Off-campus shooting near IUP the latest for university community to endure

—Fatal Indiana County shooting marks 540th mass incident this year, according to gun violence group

------

Troopers were first called around midnight to the North Fifth Avenue center for a noise complaint. As the state police mounted unit arrived to monitor the large crowd inside, they heard dozens of rounds being fired. Porterfield Herriot died at the scene.

The center is just outside Indiana Borough and about 2 miles from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. It is typically used for providing meals to the needy and as a community space for gatherings. It's closed until further notice.

Porterfield Herriot was not a student at IUP and had never attended the university, spokeswoman Michelle Fryling said.

Miles Doban, who is a sound engineer/producer operating under the name "Smiiles," said he knew Porterfield Harriot for almost three years and helped him record music.

"He was the hardest working artist that I've ever worked with," Doban said.

Porterfield Herriot was always working on his sound and trying to do something new or different and Doban described him as "the life of the party."

He wanted to make it big, Doban said.

"His whole sound was just larger than life," Doban said.

Authorities Monday continued their plea for help from the public. A combined reward of up to $15,000 is being offered by Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. State police are working with local and federal investigators. Anyone with information about the shooting or who left a cellphone or other belonging behind is asked to contact state police at 724-357-1960.

The party was not associated with the university. Among the injured were students from IUP and Waynesburg University, according to spokespeople from those universities.

State police provided the following information about the remaining seven people who were injured: Four are men ages 18, 19, 20 and 22; two are 19-year-old women; and one is a 23-year-old woman. Their hometowns were unconfirmed by police, but all are from Pennsylvania except for the 18-year-old man, who is from Florida.

The party was billed as a homecoming after-party by the group that appears to have hosted it. State police said they had extra troopers working patrols and enforcement details for homecoming weekend. Investigators believe the shooting was isolated to those at the party, and there's no risk to the public.

Renatta Signorini is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Renatta by email at rsignorini@triblive.com or via Twitter .