News

A Family's Fears by Justin Merriman

To read more visit the Washington Post

People Call for Justice for Antwon by Justin Merriman

People take to the streets of Pittsburgh in the days following the police killing of an unarmed black male. 17-year-old Antwon Rose II was shot by an East Pittsburgh police officer on June 19 after the vehicle he was riding in was stopped by police. Rose, a passenger in the car, fled the vehicle during the traffic stop, and was shot three times by Officer Michael Rosfeld who has been charged with criminal homicide. (Photo by Justin Merriman/Getty Images) 

View more images at Getty Images.

Great-Grandparent Caregiver by Justin Merriman

Read more about Patricia and her raising her great-grandchildren in the Arizona Daily Star

March For Our Lives by Justin Merriman

Justin Merriman_Freelance_Photographer_Photojournalist_Pittsburgh_Guns In America_March for our lives_Protest_01.JPG

Kristine Hayes of Greensburg, Pa., holds up a 'March for Our Lives' sign as Martin Palla, 33, of Rostraver Township, Pa., stands with his AR-15 rifle across the street from demonstrators joining in the ‘March for Our Lives' rally at the Westmoreland County Courthouse on Friday, March 23, 2018 in Greensburg, Pa. 

Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to join marches across the country on Saturday in response to the school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, that claimed 17 lives last month. The demonstrators are calling for stricter gun control and an end to gun violence in our schools and communities.  - Justin Merriman / American Reportage

To read more visit the Washington Examiner

The Death of Nyia Page by Justin Merriman

Darlene Scott, 33, weeps as she talks about the loss of her 23-month-old daughter, Nyia, at her home on Feb. 25, 2018, in Duquesne, Pa. 

Nyia's body was found frozen to the ground in an abandoned playground in Rankin on Feb. 4, 2007, a day after her parents reported her missing. Police found her footprints in the snow near where they found her body. Her father, William Page, was found guilty of sexually assaulting her and leaving her to die. He was sentenced to life in prison. Nyia's death is still felt throughout the communities of Rankin and Braddock. To read more about Nyia's story visit the Post-Gazette.

Along the Promenade by Justin Merriman

Daren Johnson, 64, busks on Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2017 along the promenade of the Loudoun Street Pedestrian Mall in Winchester, Va. Johnson, a retired school teacher and former supporter of Hillary Clinton, is exhausted by recent elections, but will vote in the upcoming gubernatorial election. Being uninsured and relying on a free healthcare clinic he cares deeply about the state of healthcare in America. Read more about this story in The New York Post

Beta Theta Pi Fraternity Preliminary Hearing by Justin Merriman

A member of Beta Theta Pi fraternity arrives for the preliminary hearing at the Centre County courthouse on Monday Morning, June 12, 2017 in Bellefonte, Pa. Today's hearing will determine whether the 18 brothers, as well as their fraternity, should stand trial for the death of Timothy Piazza.

Jim and Evelyn Piazza, the parents of Timothy Piazza, the 19-year-old pledge who died following a Feb. 2 event at the Beta Theta Pi frat house at Penn State University, leave the Centre County courthouse following a preliminary hearing on Monday Morning, June 12, 2017 in Bellefonte, Pa.

Luke Visser, a member of the Beta Theta Pi frat house at Penn State University, leaves the Centre County courthouse following a preliminary hearing on Monday Morning, June 12, 2017 in Bellefonte, Pa. Visser faces 56 counts: involuntary manslaughter, aggravated assault, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person, hazing, furnishing alcohol to minors, unlawful acts relative to liquor, and consumption of alcohol by a minor.

Jim and Evelyn Piazza, the parents of Timothy Piazza, the 19-year-old pledge who died following a Feb. 2 event at the Beta Theta Pi frat house at Penn State University, wait to enter the Centre County courthouse prior to a preliminary hearing on Monday, July 10, 2017 in Bellefonte, Pa.

Piazza family attorney Tom Kline speaks with members of the media outside of the Centre County courthouse at the conclusion of the fraternity members' preliminary hearing on Monday, July 10, 2017 in Bellefonte, Pa.

Brendan Young, president of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity, arrives back at the Centre County courthouse for the continuation of the preliminary hearing in the death of Timothy Piazza, 19, who died following a Feb. 2 pledge event at the frat house at Penn State University, on Thursday, Aug. 10, 2017 in Bellefonte, Pa. 

Young faces 200 counts including involuntary manslaughter, aggravated assault, simple assault, tampering with evidence, recklessly endangering another person, hazing, furnishing alcohol to minors, and unlawful acts relative to liquor.

As the preliminary hearing for the death of Tim Piazza continues, fog sits over Bellefonte, Pa., on Friday, Aug., 2017 in Bellefonte, Pa.

Leonard Ambrose, the attorney for Joe Sala, a member of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity, arrives at the Centre County courthouse for a continuation of the fraternity members' preliminary hearing on Aug. 30, 2017 in Bellefonte, Pa. Sala faces 55 counts including involuntary manslaughter, aggravated assault, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person, hazing, furnishing alcohol to minors, unlawful acts relative to liquor.

Members of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity walk to the Centre County courthouse after a break in the 7th day of the fraternity members' preliminary hearing on Aug. 31, 2017 in Bellefonte, Pa.

Luke Visser, a member of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity, arrives at the Centre County courthouse for verdict in the fraternity members' preliminary hearing on Sept. 1, 2017 in Bellefonte, Pa. Visser faces 56 counts including involuntary manslaughter, aggravated assault, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person, hazing, furnishing alcohol to minors, unlawful acts relative to liquor, and consumption of alcohol by a minor.

Brendan Young, president of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity, stands in front of the Centre County courthouse after the verdict in the fraternity members' preliminary hearing on Sept. 1, 2017 in Bellefonte, Pa after a judge threw out the most serious charges for the fraternity members.

Tom Kline, the attorney for Jim and Evelyn Piazza, the parents of Timothy Piazza, 19, who died following a Feb. 2 pledge event at the Beta Theta Pi frat house at Penn State University, speaks with media in front of the Centre County courthouse after the verdict in the fraternity members' preliminary hearing on Sept. 1, 2017 in Bellefonte, Pa.

On Feb. 4, Tim Piazza, a sophomore pledge at the Beta Theta Pi fraternity at Penn State University died after a night of heaving drinking and hazing by fraternity members. After falling down a flight of stairs and suffering sustained multiple traumatic injuries from the fall, it would be 12 hours until his fraternity brothers would call for help. In pretrial hearings that lasted throughout the summer, it ended with the most serious charges of involuntary manslaughter and aggravated assault dropped; however, 14 of the Beta brothers will still face a total of 328 criminal charges.

Westboro Baptist Church Protest by Justin Merriman

A person is tackled by Pittsburgh Police after he rushed a member of the Westboro Baptist Church and ripped a sign out of their hands as they demonstrated near Carnegie Mellon University on Thursday in Pittsburgh.  

Shooting of a Judge by Justin Merriman

William 'Thuggy' Robinson sits on the porch of his longtime-friend Nathaniel "Snake" Richmond on Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2017 in Steubenville, Ohio. Richmond was shot and killed Monday in front of the Jefferson County courthouse after he ambushed Judge Joseph Bruzzese Jr., and open fired on him.  Justin Merriman for DailyMail.com

A photo of Nathaniel "Snake" Richmond sits on a table on his porch on Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2017 in Steubenville, Ohio. Richmond was shot and killed Monday in front of the Jefferson County courthouse after he ambushed Judge Joseph Bruzzese Jr., and open fired on him. Justin Merriman for DailyMail.com

Sheriff Fred Abdalla sits in his office as he discusses the shooting of Jefferson County Judge Joseph Bruzzese Jr.,  on Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2017 in Steubenville, Ohio. Justin Merriman for DailyMail.com

A statue stands on top of the Jefferson County courthouse in Steubenville, Ohio on Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2017.  Justin Merriman for DailyMail.com

A memorial sits at the site where an April 2015 fire took the lives of Mae Etta Richmond, 70, and Te'on Dillard, 2, along Wellesley Avenue in Steubenville, Ohio on Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2017. The fire was part of a wrongful death suit that Nathaniel Richmond filed on behalf of his mother, Mae Etta and had pending before Judge Joseph Bruzzese Jr. Richmond was shot and killed on Monday after he ambushed the Judge Bruzzese outside of the Jefferson County courthouse. 
Justin Merriman for DailyMail.com

Curtis Golsby stands in front of the home of Nathaniel "Snake" Richmond, after Golsby was released from the Jefferson County jail on Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2017 in Steubenville, Ohio. Golsby was with Richmond when he went to the Jefferson County courthouse and ambushed Judge Joseph Bruzzese Jr., and open fired on him. Richmond was shot and killed during the incident.  Justin Merriman for DailyMail.com

Nathaniel 'Snake' Richmond was killed after he waited for Jefferson County Judge Joseph Bruzzese, Jr. to arrive at the courthouse on Monday, Aug. 21, 2017. When Richmond saw the judge he exited his car and opened fire, wounding the judge. The judge and a probation officer returned firing, killing Richmond, 51. Read more about this story at Daily Mail.

Energy Secretary Rick Perry by Justin Merriman

United States Secretary of Energy Rick Perry is photographed on Friday, July 7, 2017 at the Department of Energy's National Energy Technology Laboratory in Pittsburgh, Pa. 

A Coal Mine Opens by Justin Merriman

A coal miner holds a lump of metallurgical coal from the Middle Kittanning coal seam on May 18, 2017 in Friedens, Somerset, Pa. Justin Merriman for The Wall Street Journal

Coal Miner Russ Lambert, 61, of Berlin, Pa., who has been mining for over 37 years, poses for a portrait on May 18, 2017 in Friedens, Somerset, Pa. Lambert, a shift foreman, who previously has been mining in Corsa's Quecreek Mine will be working in Corsa's new mine, the Acosta Deep Mine. Justin Merriman for The Wall Street Journal

Robert Bottegal, head engineer of the Acosta Deep Mine for Corsa Coal, stands near the future drift entrance off the high wall of the new mine on May 18, 2017 in Friedens, Somerset, Pa. The new mine, which is expected to open early June, will create 70 new jobs and should produce 400,000 tons of metallurgical coal a year. Justin Merriman for The Wall Street Journal

Robert Bottegal points to a map showing the Acosta Deep Mine in Friedens, Somerset County, Pa., on March 22, 2017. Justin Merriman | for the Financial Times

A coal miner works at Corsa Coal's Acosta Deep Mine on June 8, 2017 in Friedens, Pennsylvania.  Justin Merriman/Getty Images

Workers stand in the pit as construction continues on Corsa Coal's Acosta Deep Mine on May 18, 2017 in Friedens, Somerset, Pa. Justin Merriman for The Wall Street Journal

Coal Miner Russ Lambert, 61, of Berlin, Pa., who has been mining for over 37 years, yells to another miner as they work on the construction of Corsa Coal's new Acosta Deep Mine on May 18, 2017 in Friedens,Somerset, Pa. Justin Merriman for The Wall Street Journal

Coal Miner Joe Kostyk, 28, of Sidman, Pa., works on the construction of the drift entrance of Corsa Coal's new Acosta Deep Mine on May 18, 2017 in Friedens, Somerset, Pa.  Justin Merriman for The Wall Street Journal

A rig drills holes for explosive charges at the Corsa Coal's new Acosta Deep Mine in Friedens, Somerset County, Pa., on March 22, 2017.  Justin Merriman for the Financial Times

Coal miners works on the future drift entrance of Corsa Coal's Acosta Deep Mine on May 18, 2017 in Friedens, Somerset, Pa.  Justin Merriman for The Wall Street Journal

Robert Bottegal stands on a platform above the pit of the new Acosta Deep Mine on Monday, June 5, 2017 in Friedens, Somerset County, Pa. The platform was constructed for the mine's grand opening ceremony that will be held on Thursday.  Justin Merriman for The Washington Post

A coal truck drives past a Trump sign on May 19, 2017 on Million Dollar Highway in Jenner Township, Pa.  Justin Merriman for The Wall Street Journal

George Critchfield, 59, owner of Critchfield Lumber, stands at his mill on May 19, 2017 in Jenner Township, Pa. The new Corsa Coal Corporation mine has purchased lumber from Critchfield's lumber mill, which borders the new mine site. He is excited about the mine's opening and feels the mine has saved his business. "It's a trickle down effect," he says. "That's what you need, good paying jobs instead of McDonalds and Walmart." Justin Merriman for The Wall Street Journal

A sign for the Coal Miner's Cafe sits along U.S. Route 30 on May 18, 2017 in Jennerstown, Pa. Justin Merriman for The Wall Street Journal

Betty Rhoads, who owns the Coal Miner's Cafe with her husband, John, sits at one of the restaurant's tables on May 18, 2017 in Jennerstown, Pa. "I've seen the good day's of coal," says Rhoads; her father owned several pick and shovel coal mines. "I can remember when there was mines all over these hills," she says. While she's not optimistic about the coal mining industry, Rhoads is happy about the opening of the Acosta Deep Mine. "I want every mine that can reopen to reopen," she says. Justin Merriman for The Wall Street Journal

George Barron, 78, stands along Main Street on May 18, 2017 in Acosta, Pa. Barron, having lived in Acosta since 1962, has seen the coal industry come and go. The Somerset Coal Company opened the Acosta mines in 1905 and established the town two years later. Corsa Coal has opened the Acosta Deep Mine just up the road from Acosta. Justin Merriman for The Wall Street Journal

Edward Popernack, 84, who worked in coal mines for over 40 years, poses for a portrait at the Coal Miner's Cafe on Monday, June 5, 2017 in Jennerstown, Pa. Popernack's son, Mark, was one of the coal miners rescued from Quecreek Mine after being trapped for 77 hours in July 2002. Justin Merriman for The Washington Post

George Barron, 78, right, watches as Barry Custer, 64, cleans his lawn tractor with his wife, Robbie, 62, and granddaughter Emma Grigg, 7, at his home on May 18, 2017 in Acosta, Pa. "If they put coal miners back to work that be great," Custer, a coal miner with AK Coal Resources, says speaking of the opening of Corsa Coal's new Acosta Deep Mine. "This town was built on coal," he continues, having worked as a coal miner since he was 18. Custer's wife, Robbie's cousin Mark Popernack was one of the 9 miners rescued from the Quecreek Mine in 2002. Justin Merriman for The Wall Street Journal

A person wears a coal pin at the grand opening of Corsa Coal's Acosta Deep Mine on June 8, 2017 in Friedens, Pennsylvania.  Justin Merriman/Getty Images

President Donald Trump delivers a recorded message at the grand opening of Corsa Coal's Acosta Deep Mine on June 8, 2017 in Friedens, Pennsylvania. Justin Merriman/Getty Images

The entrance to the Corsa Coal's Acosta Deep Mine on June 8, 2017 in Friedens, Pennsylvania. Justin Merriman/Getty Images

For the last several months, I've been covering Corsa Coal's new coal mine, the Acosta Deep Mine, in Friedens, Somerset County, Pennsylvania as well as the surrounding communities. The mine, which began production in June, created 70 news jobs and is expected to produce over 400,000 tons of metallurgical coal a year.  You can read about the mine in the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, the Financial Times, and view more images at Getty Images

Lead Pipe Replacement by Justin Merriman

A piece of a broken lead service line, stamped with the date 1899, is removed by Pittsburgh Water and Sewage Authority at a home on Wednesday, April 26, 2017 in Pittsburgh's Homewood neighborhood.  Justin Merriman / for the Wall Street Journal

Pittsburgh Water and Sewage Authority's Brian Schacht wipes his face as he works to repair a broken lead public service line at a home on Wednesday, April 26, 2017 in Pittsburgh's Homewood neighborhood. Justin Merriman / for the Wall Street Journal

 A broken lead public service line sits on the ground after being removed by the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority at a home in Pittsburgh. Justin Merriman / for the Wall Street Journal

Pittsburgh Water and Sewage Authority work to repair a broken lead public service line at a home on Wednesday, April 26, 2017 in Pittsburgh's Homewood neighborhood. Read more about Pittsburgh's lead issues in the Wall Street Journal.