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Posted: Thursday, November 7, 2013 2:00 pm
ALIQUIPPA -- Three Aliquippa siblings were honored this week for doing the right thing and inadvertently helping a police investigation.
The children, ages 12, 10 and 8, received "One Aliquippa" awards at Wednesday's city council meeting for their actions Oct. 18 when the siblings found a handgun and turned it in to police.
The Times is not releasing the names of the mother and children in consideration of the family's safety.
"For them to do that prevented a long string of tragedies," Mayor Dwan Walker said. "The police force would still be looking for that weapon. I love those three kids."
The gun is suspected to be the one used by Ed Washington, 58, during an early-morning shooting Oct. 18 at Terrace Heights, in which Travaughn Moreland, 23, and a 16-year-old juvenile were shot, police said. Prior to his arrest, Washington had several outstanding warrants and was on the Beaver County Most Wanted list.
"He's been on the run for over three years," Assistant Police Chief Don Couch said. "The very next day these three young kids were walking up Waugaman Street in the day time and notice (the gun)."
Washington is awaiting a preliminary hearing and the gun is undergoing forensic testing. The two reported victims didn't suffer any serious injuries and were released from the hospital shortly after the incident, police said.
"We believe it was (the gun) he used," Couch said. "The gun itself is being processed for forensic evidence (,which takes several months)."
While walking up Linmar Hill, the three siblings came across the gun when the 10-year-old tripped over a pile of leaves where the gun and a cell phone were hidden. Instead of keeping the gun or accidentally mishandling it, the three immediately called the police from the cellphone, officials said.
