Frank A. Miller, Jr., an officer with the McKeesport Police Department, was killed during an altercation with a homeless man on November 10, 1993.
Andre Harper was panhandling when Miller attempted to arrest him. Harper, who had a long history of mental illness, grabbed Miller’s weapon and shot and killed him. Harper was arrested soon after.
Harper was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life without parole in 1996. That conviction was reversed and a new trial was ordered in 1999 due to evidence of mental illness.
Harper was convicted again in 2002 and sentenced to life without parole.
State Killings in the Steel City: The History of the Death Penalty in Pittsburgh 