http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08341/933269-52.stm

Boxing mentor faces trial in killing of bystander

In Pittsburgh's close-knit boxing community, Donald Scott is known as a top referee, a fair judge, a disciplined manager and a caring mentor who has spent years taking troubled kids off the streets and putting them in his Wilkinsburg gym.

But his life is taking a turn that has stunned boxing friends and colleagues. Yesterday, Mr. Scott, 45, of Penn Hills, was held for trial in connection with last month's fatal shooting of a 17-year-old boy in the parking lot of a Save-A-Lot grocery store near the gym.

At a preliminary hearing, a teenage witness said Mr. Scott fired a handgun at a crowd of youths in the parking lot after a rowdy party in his building on Nov. 23. Prosecutors asked that the witness not be identified for safety reasons.

Derrick House was killed in the shooting. Mr. Scott also is accused of shooting a 15-year-old boy in the arm and leg.

The witness said about 10 youths had "jumped" Mr. Scott in the parking lot and tried to fight him.

"I'm shocked," said Monty Meza-Clay, one of the World Boxing Organization's top-rated featherweight challengers. "[Mr. Scott] opened the doors for me. He gave me a place to work out. He was definitely there for me."

Mr. Meza-Clay, 27, of Rankin, fought his first boxing match in Mr. Scott's building at 722 Penn Ave. Mr. Scott also let him stay in an apartment there and worked as his manager.

Mr. Scott is certified as a referee with USA Boxing, the national governing body of amateur boxing, said Jimmy Cvetic, director of the Western Pennsylvania Police Athletic League.

"He's absolutely one of the best referees around," Mr. Cvetic said. "He's always been out to help people, not hurt anybody."

Mr. Scott spent four years in the Marine Corps and is a retired postal worker, according to his defense attorney, Lisa Middleman.

His building on Penn Avenue is home to several apartments and businesses, including the Weightmasters gym. He also provides rental space for large parties.

On the evening of Nov. 22, a crowd of youths had gathered at the building for a birthday party, and Mr. Scott was acting as a security guard at the event, his lawyer said.

During yesterday's hearing, the teenage witness said Mr. Scott repeatedly tried to break up groups dancing in circles, angering some youths.

Around midnight, the young people started to leave the party, and one boy knocked over a table, the witness said. Mr. Scott became angry and punched another boy. Several other boys then started hitting Mr. Scott, throwing him up against a wall, the witness said.

Mr. Scott went outside to talk to a group in the parking lot, the witness said.

Some youths attacked him. Mr. Scott then went to his nearby truck, took out a gun and fired as many as eight shots, the witness said.

Derrick House was hit in the head.

"Why did you do this?" the witness, a relative of the victim, asked Mr. Scott. He drove away in his truck without saying anything, the witness said.

District Judge Gene Ricciardi ordered Mr. Scott to stand trial on charges of homicide, aggravated assault and carrying a firearm without a license.

Mr. Scott, with a shaved head, moustache and goatee, stood silently throughout the hearing in a red prison jumpsuit.

"He could have stayed inside and avoided any trouble," Deputy District Attorney Mark Tranquilli said. "Unfortunately, Derrick House, who had nothing to do with this, was an innocent bystander."

Ms. Middleman said she needs to review a surveillance video from the Save-A-Lot to see what happened before the shots rang out.

This week, Mr. Meza-Clay visited Mr. Scott at the Allegheny County Jail. He said his former manager still had bruises from fighting with the youths and was in a "depressed state of mind."

"Thousands of kids came through his gym," Mr. Meza-Clay said. "He tried to get them off the street."
Several "what if this happen" threads have scenario similar to this real case of being attacked by a group of people.
As usual with any media article never have all of the info to make a call as to what really happened (self defense or over reaction).