2 teens shot in Cultural District after fireworks
Victims hospitalized; no arrests are made
Two teenagers who were shot in the Cultural District shortly after the Fourth of July fireworks Thursday remained hospitalized in critical condition and no suspects had been identified, Pittsburgh police said Friday.
The gunfire erupted about 11 p. m. during a fight that involved a “double digit” number of males just as crowds were dispersing Downtown after the fireworks show, police said.
The identities of the two teens, aged 16 and 18, have not been released. One was shot in the head and the other in the abdomen. Both are from the Pittsburgh area, officials said.
Officers from multiple zones as well as tactical units and detectives from the city’s Major Crimes Unit responded to Katz Plaza in the 600 block of Penn Avenue near the O’Reilly Theater and the Benedum Center.
Police blocked off the area of Penn and Seventh Street as detectives searched the plaza. Some ballistic and video evidence has been collected, authorities said.
Officials would not say whether
the victims were involved in the fighting, or whether they suspect the victims fired any gunshots. Major Crimes Cmdr. Victor Joseph said during a news conference Friday that officials could confirm only that the victims were in the plaza at the time the fight erupted.
But “this was not a random act of violence,” he said. Detectives are investigating various groups, neighborhoods and gang- related activities regarding the incident.
Cmdr. Joseph said officials are working to address the issue of a few “unruly” teenagers who come from all over the city and start problems. No arrests had been made.
The shooting occurred as thousands of revelers were leaving Point State Park and other Downtown areas after the fireworks show wrapped up.
“My heart goes out to the families, and I want to emphasize that we’re not going to let anything stop us from finding out ... who was involved in this incident,” Major Crimes Assistant Chief Lavonnie Bickerstaff said Friday.
City Public Safety Director Wendell Hissrich said he was a block away at a command post when he heard gunshots. He said people were “diving for cover,” and it took police several minutes to find the victims.
“It is likely that numerous people witnessed the shooting as Downtown was extremely crowded at the time of the incident. We know from experience that when witnesses come forward, police solve crimes,” police officials said in a statement.
Police are asking anyone who may have witnessed the shooting to contact them at 412- 323- 7800.
Authorities said they will work with Mayor Bill Peduto’s office to possibly add more buses Downtown and additional patrols in an effort to avoid violence at future events in the city.
“Today we are taking a re- evaluation of transportation, lighting, road closures and security for various sites throughout the Downtown area,” Director Hissrich said Friday.
Public Safety officials said Friday they expect to at least have an increase in buses and lighting in time for the Three Rivers Regatta, which kicks off Aug. 2 at Point State Park, Downtown.
In 2016, a teen shot four people at Liberty and Seventh avenues, Downtown, following Independence Day festivities, police said. City public safety officials beefed up patrols during Downtown festivities after that incident and a stabbing a couple of days later near Market Square.
Mr. Hissrich said authorities have taken an “aggressive step” in an attempt to curtail any trouble Downtown during special events, and some of the disturbances had subsided until Thursday night.
Officials said they enhanced police presence, added a Downtown substation, air access by state police, high vantage points for police officers, and enhanced security cameras throughout Downtown.
Authorities are limited in providing preventative measures, “unless you put metal detectors and bag checks at the city limits, and that’s just not going to happen,” Mr. Hissrich said.
Officials thanked the various police departments, community and local businesses for their quick efforts in assisting Thursday.
Derek Weber, director of the LionHeart group that produces the “Celebrate America” event for Pittsburgh, said Friday that “safety is always the No. 1 priority.”
“We spend all year developing safety and security plans with city, county, and state public safety departments,” Mr. Weber said. “We have the utmost confidence in Pittsburgh police and Public Safety to respond to these types of incidents and address them.”
Investigators with the police bureau’s Violent Crimes Unit and Group Violence Intervention continued to interview witnesses and review surveillance video from the area of the shooting.