PITTSBURG – Shots fired at a home party in Pittsburgh early Sunday killing two minors and injuring at least eight others, police said.
The shooting happened around 12:30 a.m. during a party at a short-term rental property where hundreds of people had gathered – “most of them minors,” Pittsburgh Police Chief Scott Schubert told reporters at noon. press conference.
Shortly after some sort of quarrel broke out, shots were fired both inside and out, “and potentially back and forth,” Schubert said. The shell casings found at the scene show that pistols and a rifle were used, and police believe there were many shooters, Schubert said.
Two men died at the hospital, police said, and eight others were treated for gunshot wounds. A police statement initially said nine people were injured in the shooting, but Schubert reconsidered the numbers at the press conference. The names of the two dead boys were not released immediately.
Others were injured by jumping out of windows, falling down stairs or simply trying to seek shelter or escape, Schubert said. Two people jumped out of windows with broken bones, authorities said. One victim was injured after a car was “fired”, Schubert said.
ShotSpotter said more than 90 rounds were fired, “and we know there was a lot more to it than inside the structure and outside,” Schubert said. Arriving officers discovered a “very chaotic” scene with injured victims, medics trying to treat them and people fleeing on foot and in vehicles,
No arrests were made immediately, but Schubert said, “our top priority is to find out who did this and get them off the streets.” He said he could not comment on a possible motive, but condemned the number of illegal weapons and too many people with access to them, as well as the powerful mix of alcohol, drugs and weapons.
“It’s heartbreaking; “Here we are at Easter and we have many families, two who will not see a loved one,” said Schubert. “Others that will be – how can you even have a holiday when your child has been involved in something traumatic like this?”
Police are processing evidence at eight separate crime scenes, covering several blocks around the shooting site. Officials asked anyone with information, including video or photos of people who were at the party, to send it to authorities.
Allegheny General Health reported that seven people were treated at Allegheny General Hospital and one at Jefferson Hospital for gunshot wounds or other injuries. but employees refused to publish their terms or other information.
Neighbor Mitchell Wilston, 30, told the Associated Press that he and his wife were outside at the time of the shooting, but before leaving they saw a neighborhood full of people with cars parked improperly down the street, and queue in front of the rented apartment.
“It was so obvious that there would be a problem – there was a queue of 14-year-olds trying to get into this place,” he said. The house was rented out for bachelorette parties or other events before or for baseball players’ families because of its proximity to the stadium, but there were no problems, he said.
Airbnb spokesman Ben Bright confirmed that the house was rented through the company. He said the bidder, who should be 18 or older under Airbnb rules, had been banned for life. Breit’s statement said the party was organized without the knowledge of the host, whose list banned parties and advertised curfew at night.
Breit said Airbnb was cooperating with authorities: “We share the outrage of the Pittsburgh community over this tragic gun violence. Our hearts are with all those affected – including the relatives of those who lost their lives, the injured victims and the neighbors. “
In the morning, Wilston found his wife’s white car stained with blood, possibly from someone fleeing the shooting and trying to hide behind the vehicle, he said.
“It is extremely, extremely embarrassing to see how the bullets perpendicular to our house were fired,” he said, adding that he could see bullet holes in a nearby building from his desk and in another building from another window.
Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gaine condemned the violence, which he attributed in part to the failure to remove weapons from the streets and provide adequate community resources. He said the city would convene a meeting with local leaders to get feedback on a new approach to public safety across the city.
“It is time to move with a sense of urgency to bring justice to the victims and peace in our city,” said Gaine, who is in isolation due to the recent exposure to COVID-19.
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Associated Press reporter Ron Todd of Philadelphia contributed to the report.
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