Family and Friends of Easter Mass Shooting Victim Host Public Safety and Teen Violence Summit – WPXI

ALLEGHENY COUNTY, Pennsylvania – The family and friends of Matthew Steffy-Ross, one of the teenagers killed in the tragic Airbnb mass shooting, helped organize the Public Safety and Teen Violence Summit in Friday.

More than 100 teens came together to talk about how gun violence in Pittsburgh has affected them.

Attendees said the event was to ensure more lives were not taken.

“Matthew was God’s ray of sunshine in this world, he lit up the life of every person who knew him,” said Bonnie McLain, Steffy-Ross’s great-aunt.

On April 17, Matthew Steffy-Ross and Jayden Brown were killed and dozens injured in a mass shooting at an Airbnb party for teens in the city’s North End.

“There should be justice, people need to be held accountable…over 100 casings, multiple shooters,” McLain said.

McLain said Matthew and other teenagers who lost their lives to gun violence all deserve justice.

“I want justice and answers for every child, I don’t care if it was five years ago,” McLain said.

She added that all teenagers deserve a brighter future – a future where they can learn, grow and celebrate without fear.

“Teenagers go to parties,” McLain said.

That’s why she, along with some of Matthew’s friends, wanted to help organize Friday’s summit.

“I lost my friend, my brother, Matthew Steffy-Ross. I lost so many people close to me,” said Kwahyum Wiliams, Matthew’s best friend.

A recent Woodland Hills graduate, 19-year-old Wiliams said gun violence has reshaped his outlook on life. He now uses his free time to fight against gun violence.

“I know the type of bond that me and Matt had, he wouldn’t want me to sit and cry 24/7, he would want me to get up,” Wiliams said.

Wiliams said he finished school strong with a 3.6 GPA for his friends like Matthew, who couldn’t cross the stage, and will continue to push for kids who may not see no path.

“If we all come together and unite, you can’t stop unity — and the more people who want to do that, the more meaningful change we get,” Wiliams said.

Friday’s event was organized by the Youth Enrichment Services program, an organization that provides vulnerable teens with mentorship and education services.

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