2 men charged with armed robbery in Duquesne

Police have charged two men after an arrangement to purchase shoes turned into an armed robbery at a home in Duquesne.

Duquesne police said they were contacted around 6 p.m. Tuesday by victims who said they had made plans to meet and sell designer shoes at a home in the 1000 block of Lincoln Avenue. Sometime after they got there, they were robbed at gunpoint, a criminal complaint said.

Two previously convicted felons — Mitchell Johnson, 25, and Aaron Pirl, 21 — were arrested Tuesday after police set up surveillance on the residence and obtained a search warrant. Police said two prior federal and state search warrants had been executed at the residence in the last six months. Multiple firearms were taken on both occasions, a complaint said.

The victims told police they were contacted online to facilitate a shoe purchase, and were told to go to the Duquesne residence. Once there, they waited about 45 minutes inside the home while the buyers said they would get money for the purchase. They were threatened and “pushed against the wall” when they tried to leave, a criminal complaint said.

Johnson and Pirl allegedly pointed guns at them and took their money, gold chains, gift cards and bank cards, as well as other items they intended to sell, a complaint said. They also were forced to wire them $150 through a phone application. The victims told police the suspects took photos of their drivers’ licenses and threatened to burn their homes down if they contacted police.

Johnson, who matched a suspect description, was Tasered, captured and arrested Tuesday night after he fled from officials during a traffic stop near Route 837 and Grant Avenue. Authorities had followed him after watching him get in a car and leave the home on Lincoln Avenue, police said.

Police said he was in possession of a loaded 9mm handgun when they arrested him. Officials also found about $485, jewelry and a black smartphone that Johnson had tossed in the area. He was taken to a hospital and cleared before being charged with robbery, resisting

arrest and other firearms violations at the police station.

Pirl was also arrested that evening in a search of the Lincoln Avenue home, where police found a gold handgun that matched a description of the robbery weapon. A parolee, he was charged with robbery and firearm crimes.

Johnson had been found guilty of rape in 2009, and pleaded guilty to firearm charges in 2015. He also pleaded guilty to burglary and drug charges the following year. He is not licensed to carry a firearm, police said.

Pirl was found guilty on robbery charges in 2015 and 2016.

Allegheny County police assisted in the investigation.