ALIQUIPPA, Pa. — An Aliquippa High School student has died after being shot by a federal agent during an incident in Beaver County, authorities confirmed. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner identified the victim as 18-year-old Kendric Curtis, who passed away at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh just after 3 a.m. Friday. He had been flown there following the shooting, which occurred the previous evening.
Emergency dispatchers reported that the shooting took place around 6:20 p.m. Thursday on Waugaman Street at the Linmar Terrace apartment complex in Aliquippa. After being critically injured, Curtis was airlifted to Pittsburgh, where doctors later pronounced him dead.
Pennsylvania State Police (PSP), who are now leading the investigation, released a statement confirming that federal agents were directly involved in the incident. The statement noted that both ATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives) and FBI agents were participating in a joint operation at the time of the shooting. The ATF separately verified the same details.
At this stage, authorities have not revealed the nature of the investigation federal agents were conducting in the area, nor have they explained what specifically led to the shooting. It remains unclear whether Curtis was a target of the operation or if he was caught up in it unexpectedly.
Aliquippa Mayor Dwan Walker addressed the public after the shooting, emphasizing that local police officers were not responsible. “This wasn’t an Aliquippa officer-involved shooting,” he clarified. “It was an ATF-involved shooting. An agent from ATF was involved in this, but it wasn’t local.” He further acknowledged the community’s concerns, stressing that officials are working to gather facts and promising accountability once all details are available. “This is a fluid and active investigation,” Walker said. “When we get all the facts that we need, we know justice will be brought forth.”
The mayor also highlighted the broad law enforcement presence now focused on the case, noting that agencies at every level are participating. “Everything is being brought to bear for this moment—from the state troopers’ office to local, federal,” Walker explained. “Everybody’s involved in this to make sure we get questions answered.” In addition to the ATF and PSP, units from the Beaver Valley Regional Police Department, Aliquippa Police, and the Beaver County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene.
Witnesses at Linmar Terrace described the chaos that followed the gunfire. One resident, Sandra Pope, said she heard several shots and then looked out her window. “And then there’s a barrage of kids came running out and they were cursing and they were pointing, and they pointed at a police officer and they said, ‘that’s the one that shot him,’” Pope recalled.
The shooting has left the community shaken, with many residents demanding answers as investigators continue their work. Authorities have not disclosed whether body cameras or surveillance footage exist that could shed light on the incident.
The case remains under investigation, and officials say updates will be provided as more details emerge.
