PITTSBURG (AP) – Shots fired at a home party in Pittsburgh early Sunday killed two 17-year-olds and injured at least eight others, police said.
Hundreds of people – “most of them minors” – had gathered at a short-term rental property when some sort of altercation broke out and shots were fired around 12:30 a.m., Pittsburgh Police Chief Scott Schubert told a news conference.
Schubert said there were shootings both inside and outside the rental home, “and potentially back and forth.” Cartridges were found at the scene, indicating that pistols and a rifle had been used, he said, and police believed there were numerous shooters.
Two men injured in a firearm died at the hospital. The Allegheny County Court Service identified them as Jaden Brown and Matthew Steffi-Ross, both 17 years old.
Eight people were also treated for gunshot wounds and others were injured while trying to escape, Schubert said, including two who broke bones after jumping out of windows. One victim was injured after a car was “shot”, Schubert said.
George Stevens said he was in front of a bar next to the rental property and was smoking a cigarette when he heard what he thought were fireworks and then saw children running away.
Stevens told the Associated Press that he had left three girls hiding in his car and calling their parents while the bullets flew. He said he saw someone inside the rented property holding a gun while young people ran screaming and crying from the building.
“It happened so fast,” he said. “It simply came to our notice then. The children ran everywhere. “
ShotSpotter said more than 90 rounds had been fired, and Schubert said “we know there was much more to it than inside the structure and outside.” Police are processing evidence at eight separate crime scenes spanning several blocks around the rental home. Arriving officials found a “very chaotic” scene with injured victims, medics trying to treat them and people fleeing on foot and in vehicles, he said.
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 who will be – how can you even have a holiday when your child has been involved in something traumatic like this?”
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 officials declined to provide their condition or other information.
Pittsburgh public schools will impose a limited blockade on Monday “out of plenty of caution,” interim superintendent Wayne Walters said in a statement, meaning only people with appointments will be allowed into the area’s buildings.
Neighbor Mitchell Wilston, 30, told the AP that he and his wife were not home at the time of the shooting, but before leaving they saw a neighborhood full of people with cars parked the wrong way down the street. , and a 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 a bachelorette party or other events before or for baseball players’ families because of its proximity to the stadium, but there were no problems, he said.
In the morning, Wilston said he found his wife’s white car stained with blood, probably from someone trying to hide behind the vehicle.
Airbnb spokesman Ben Bright confirmed that the house was rented through the company. He said the booker, who was supposed to 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.
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 reporters Ron Todd of Philadelphia and Rebecca Reynolds of Louisville, Kentucky, contributed to the report.
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