Pittsburgh man sentenced to prison in good Samaritan killing
Through tears, the daughter of Vincent 鈥淢ystro鈥� Kelley spoke directly to the man responsible for shooting and killing her father 12 years ago.
Sierra Kelley was one of several family members who read victim impact statements at the Washington County Courthouse Friday morning after Keith David Wilk pleaded guilty to third-degree murder and robbery.
鈥淭oday is the day I鈥檝e waited for, I鈥檝e contemplated about,鈥� she said from the witness stand.
Wilk, 41, of Pittsburgh, shot and killed Vincent Kelley on June 16, 2023, as Kelley attempted to stop Wilk after he robbed the Citizens Bank inside the Giant Eagle in South Strabane Township.
Kelley, 46, of Washington, had jumped into Wilk鈥檚 vehicle, and Wilk shot him five times.
Washington County Judge John DiSalle handed Wilk a sentence of 20 to 40 years in prison for the murder charge, and a concurrent 10- to- 20-year sentence for the robbery charge. Additional charges of aggravated assault, reckless endangerment, carrying a firearm without a license and prohibited possession of a firearm were dismissed.
During her victim impact statement, Sierra Kelley noted it had been 4,338 days since the shooting, which took place on Father鈥檚 Day.
鈥淵ou stole so much more than a couple dollars from a bank in South Strabane that Father鈥檚 Day,鈥� Sierra Kelley said.
Those who spoke described Vincent Kelley as a loving and devoted father, brother, uncle and grandfather, and a man who would help others with little hesitation.
Rebecca Kelley, Vincent Kelley鈥檚 sister-in-law, told Wilk his actions had been devastating to her family.
鈥淚t wasn鈥檛 enough that you robbed a bank. You had to go and take a life. You brought a strong, united family to knees on Father鈥檚 Day in 2013,鈥� Rebecca Kelley said.
She went on to quote from the Bible to emphasize her belief that people are called to forgive those who have wronged them.
鈥淩evenge is all this family wanted. Revenge is all this community wanted. But revenge is not the answer. I do believe in karma, though,鈥� Rebecca Kelley said. 鈥淲e mourned Vinny鈥檚 death everyday 鈥� Ten years later, you slipped.鈥�
Rebecca Kelley was referencing the circumstances that led to Wilk鈥檚 arrest. Tina Vennebush, Wilk鈥檚 ex-girlfriend, reported to police that he had confessed to killing Vincent Kelley during a July 2020 phone call.
Vennebush testified at a preliminary hearing two years ago that Wilk described the incident over the phone and told her, 鈥淗e had to be a hero in the crowd.鈥�
Though Vennebush initially did not believe him, she found the details he provided matched news reports of the robbery and shooting. They broke up in January 2022, and she reported him to South Strabane police the following October.
Investigators then found a DNA sample from an umbrella left behind at the scene was a match for Wilk鈥檚.
Also providing a victim impact statement Friday was Mark Kelley, Vincent Kelley鈥檚 brother.
鈥淚f this is what closure looks like to some degree I have to take it. This is it, this is the last thing I get to do for my brother,鈥� Mark Kelley said.
He told Wilk that the shooting 鈥渂roke me,鈥� and described his brother as his hero.
鈥淚鈥檓 not speaking for my family, and I鈥檓 not speaking for the community. This may be one of the hardest things I鈥檝e had to do. To look you in the eyes and articulate the magnitude of the pain you caused,鈥� Mark Kelley said. 鈥淵ou lived your life for 10 years with your freedom, and now you have to pay for what you鈥檝e done.鈥�
Judge DiSalle gave Wilk an opportunity to make a statement before sentencing, but Wilk declined.
Following the hearing, Mark Kelley said the family had discussed the guilty plea and likely sentence with Washington County District Attorney Jason Walsh.
鈥淲e decided that was the best for the family, and pretty much for the case, instead of dragging it out for another 10 to 15 years,鈥� Mark Kelley said.
Though Mark Kelley spoke of closure in the courtroom, he expressed he still does not feel he has it.
鈥淭here鈥檚 no closure. We鈥檙e learning how to live with it. We did get to stand in front of him, look him in the eye and speak our piece,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hat helps.鈥�