A man who police said was simply "out for a good time" was shot dead early Saturday morning as he sat in his parked vehicle after leaving a North Side bar at closing time.
Fabian Nixon, 40, was pronounced dead about 2:09 a.m. in the driver's seat after an unknown assailant came through a vacant lot and opened fire on him in the 3100 block of McClure Avenue in the Brighton Heights section, Pittsburgh police Lt. Daniel Herrmann said.
Police did not have a suspect or a motive Saturday, as homicide detectives sought information and planned to review videotape from both Mr. Jack's Neighborhood Bar on McClure and a nearby business.
"A guy came up on him and shot him, and we have no idea why," the lieutenant said.
Mr. Nixon's mother, Janet, was too distraught Saturday to speak. Sahara Bey, the mother of one of his children, said she was surprised by the news, which she received in a 3 a.m. phone call.
"I don't even know why someone would shoot him," said Ms. Bey, who added that she was struggling with how to relay the news to Mr. Nixon's 3-year-old son. "It's going to be a heartbreak to tell him."
Ms. Bey said she saw Mr. Nixon earlier in the day when he picked up their son to spend time with him. She said he did not seem worried about anything or concerned for his safety when he brought the youngster home.
Lt. Herrmann said there had been no problems in the bar leading up to the shooting outside.
"There was no dispute in the bar, not that we were told anyway," Lt. Herrmann said.
Customers there cooperated with police and said Mr. Nixon, of Toner Street in the city's Marshall-Shadeland neighborhood, frequented the tavern, a place that is not on the police's radar screen as a trouble spot.
Mr. Nixon left Jack's shortly before 2 a.m. Police were dispatched to a call for shots fired at 1:55 a.m.
"The minute he shut the door and put the keys in the ignition, they opened fire," a forensic investigator at the Allegheny County medical examiner's office said.
Mr. Nixon had been hit multiple times, Lt. Herrmann said.
It was not clear whether Mr. Nixon worked. He leaves at least two children behind, his son and a 15-year-old daughter.
Mr. Nixon had several scrapes with the law dating back to 2009, many for vehicle code infractions, according to online court records.
He pleaded guilty at various times to driving with a suspended or revoked license and disorderly conduct. More serious charges of burglary, harassment, false identification to law enforcement, simple assault and resisting arrest were withdrawn.
Mr. Nixon had tumultuous relationships with the mothers of his children. Ms. Bey and Monique Brown both obtained protection-from-abuse orders against Mr. Nixon alleging violent or threatening behavior.neigh_city