Beaver County DA deems ATF agent-involved shooting that killed Aliquippa teen was justified

ALIQUIPPA, Pa. — An ATF agent-involved shooting that killed a teenager in Aliquippa has been deemed justified.

Beaver County District Attorney Nate Bible released his findings from the investigation into the Sept. 18 shooting on Wednesday, saying he felt the need to set the record straight.

As Channel 11 previously reported, Kendric Curtis, 18, died after he was shot by an ATF agent on Waugaman Street in Aliquippa. Initial information from investigators indicated that Curtis fired at the agent first.

Bible confirmed that information in his press conference. He said that the ATF agent, a local officer and an FBI agent working the FBI’s Safe Streets Initiative were all responding to a confidential informant’s report of an armed individual near the top of the stairs on Linmar Terrace.

Surveillance video shows that the members of law enforcement approached Curtis in a black, unmarked SUV from the top of the stairs as he was walking down them. Bible said the ATF agent opened the front passenger door of the SUV, identified himself as an agent and ordered Curtis to show his hands. But, as he did that, Curtis aimed a handgun in the direction of the agent and SUV, firing twice.

One of those bullets hit the SUV’s door, and was later recovered during the investigation.

After Curtis fired, the ATF agent fired once, Bible said, hitting Curtis in the head. He was flown to AGH but later died of his injuries.

Bible said the gun in Curtis’s possession was a 9mm Glock with an extended magazine that was reported stolen out of Ambridge. Because of his age, Curtis could not legally possess a handgun or obtain a concealed carry permit.

Bible said the ATF agent’s actions were ruled justified due to the immediate risk of death or bodily injury. The investigation into this shooting is still ongoing, but Bible says he doesn’t expect any of the remaining reports to change any of his findings.

Bible said he called this press conference to correct “false information” being put out on social media about the death of Curtis.

“A large part of putting this video out there is to stomp out that narrative that he was somehow hunted and shot in the back repeatedly and executed,” Bible said.

Family members of Curtis made it known they disagreed with Bible’s analysis and synopsis of the series of events that led up to Curtis’s death. They came to the Beaver County Courthouse Wednesday, as Bible showed surveillance footage and pictures of evidence from the scene.

Community members have held vigils to honor his life, saying Curtis was a kind and respectful young man. They had several questions for Bible on Wednesday, including the timing of what played out in the videos shown, but they did not want to speak with Channel 11 on camera.

“We have to find a path forward,” Bible said. “I’ve only been in this job for a little over a year and a half, but this dates back way longer than me, the tumultuous relationship there has been with law enforcement and Aliquippa residents. I’m not saying one side is right and one side is wrong. This is certainly, probably, one that’s going to take a step back on building that relationship.”

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