A 17-year-old boy feared for the safety of his family when he shot and killed an unarmed 19-year-old man trying to force his way into their Wilkinsburg home early Wednesday, police said.

Jakeem Booker, 19, of Braddock was pronounced dead soon after police found him with a gunshot wound to his head on the front porch of a house on Franklin Avenue about 6:30 a.m., the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office said.

The teen who shot Booker told police that he fired the gun at the intruder because he feared for the safety of his family — including several adults and children who were getting ready for school when the man tried to force his way through their home’s front door, Allegheny County Police Inspector Andrew Schurman said.

The boy said he was particularly fearful because “he knew the 19-year-old from previous encounters and knew him to possess a firearm,” according to the initial investigation by county homicide detectives. Officials did not provide further details about the prior encounters.

The teen, whom police did not identify, fired one round at Booker using a handgun owned by an adult who lives at the residence, Schurman said.

Booker was not carrying a gun during the incident, Schurman said.

County 911 dispatchers received multiple calls about a shooting on the residential block of Franklin Avenue, which was closed to traffic for much of the day.

Police have briefed the District Attorney’s Office on the case, Schurman said.

No charges have been filed.

“At the completion of the investigation, the District Attorney’s Office will review the case and make a final determination of what, if any, charges will be filed,” Schurman said.

Officials asked anyone with information about the incident to call the county police tipline at 1-833-255-8477. Callers may remain anonymous.

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