Funeral planned for 2 teenagers killed at Airbnb party in Pittsburgh

Arrangements have been finalized for two teenagers killed on Easter Sunday after a shooting at a party at a rented house on the North Side of Pittsburgh.

About 200 people were inside the home, rented as an Airbnb, when the shooting began, witnesses and police said.

Jaiden Za’mar Brown, of North Braddock, will be laid to rest on Friday. The funeral of Mathew Steffy-Ross, of Pitcairn, is on Saturday.

They were both 17 years old.

Brown, a student at Woodland Hills High School, leaves behind his mother and grandmother and 11 siblings, according to an online obituary from Watts Memorial Chapel in Braddock. Visitation will be Thursday from 4-7 p.m. at the Living Water Ministry, 736 Washington Ave., Braddock.

His funeral will take place Friday at 11 a.m. at the church. Interment will be in Monongahela Cemetery.

Steffy-Ross’ family released a statement Thursday that visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the Coston Funeral Homes, 427 Lincoln Ave. at East Liberty. A funeral service will be private.

Steffy-Ross’ family is asking for donations to help cover funeral expenses. Those wishing to donate are asked to contact the funeral home directly at 412-661-5916. Please mention Steffy-Ross’ name when making a donation.

Steffy-Ross’ family needs to raise $10,000 for funeral expenses, according to Dennis Floyd Jones, founder and executive director of East Liberty-based Youth Enrichment Services. Steffy-Ross had been enrolled with the nonprofit since 2015. She mentors young people and offers academic assistance and counseling to inspire them to become leaders.

Jones said his organization has pledged to pay for the funeral lunch.

Steffy-Ross and her older brother Alden were cared for by their grandmother, Trudy, until her death three years ago. Steffy-Ross’ great-aunt, Bonnie McLain, took over because the parents were too ill to care for the children, according to the family.

Her grandmother’s death hit Steffy-Ross hard, the family said. He got involved with people who didn’t have his best interest at heart, they said. Like all teenagers, Steffy-Ross made bad decisions, the family said.

As he got older, he matured and didn’t want to “stay in the dark places he was in” and was “led to places that had his best interest at heart”.

There were other Youth Enrichment Services students who attended the party, Jones said.

“Kids hear about a party and they want to be a part of it,” Jones said. “They are curious and they want to be with their friends and reconnect because they have been separated for two years due to the pandemic. We have grown children who are polite and intelligent. They just lack resources and support. Mathew was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

In the statement, the family said, “Steffy-Ross had a heart as big as the world. When his loved ones and those around him were asked about Matt’s exceptional qualities, the stories of when Matt exemplified his generous heart were endless.

Unfortunately, he never reached his full potential, said Miles Porter, mentor at Youth Enrichment Services.

“Matthew’s light shines brighter than it has ever done before. His family knows they may not be able to share his light in this life, but will share it with him someday beyond this earthly realm,” the family said.

Jones said he saw Steffy-Ross last Thursday.

“He was smiling,” Jones said. “When I walked past a trash can yesterday, I noticed it was full. Matt always emptied the trash can for us before leaving for the day.