Suspect arrested in another Downtown stabbing
A man was in custody following a stabbing late Tuesday in Downtown, just five days after a woman was fatally attacked with a knife just blocks away.
City police said a man was stabbed in his lower back and left arm at Liberty Avenue and Wood Street after getting into a fight with the suspect, who told the victim he would “kill you right now,” a criminal complaint states.
Michael Bob Jr., 25, of Carnegie, followed the victim — identified in police reports as Donnie Green — into Market Square, where Mr. Green was able to flag down help. Officers responded shortly before 11 p. m., and Mr. Green was transported to UPMC Mercy in stable condition with nonlifethreatening injuries.
Mr. Bob was apprehended minutes later and charged with aggravated assault and terroristic threats. He was being held in the Allegheny County Jail, pending an Aug. 20 preliminary hearing.
Mr. Green told police he was sitting in a car with a friend when he became aware that Mr. Bob and another man were arguing. Mr. Green said he approached Mr. Bob to intervene, and Mr. Bob said, “I’ll stab you all right now.” Mr. Bob reportedly pushed him twice while holding a knife.
Mr. Bob then tried to board a Port Authority bus, but Mr. Green told the bus driver he had just been stabbed. The bus left Mr.
Bob, and Mr. Green punched him in the back of the head, a criminal complaint states. Mr. Bob then stated, “I’ll kill you right now,” before the two headed to Market Square.
Surveillance video showed an argument between Mr. Bob and another man, and a fight that involved multiple people. Mr. Bob was seen in the video holding a knife and also chasing Mr. Green while waving the knife in a “slashing motion,” police said.
The incident occurred after one last Thursday in which two women were stabbed Downtown, one of them fatally. Police arrested James Wyatt, 23, of McKeesport, who allegedly came up behind a Pittsburgh police officer at a bus stop and stabbed the women, with no identified motive. Janice Purdue- Dance, 61, of Erie, died.
Concerns over public safety issues prompted a meeting Friday of Downtown stakeholders, residents and business owners with police and city officials. The meeting was arranged by the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership in response to complaints by businesses and the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust about a “declining level of public safety” in the area.
Two teenagers were also critically wounded July 4 after a late- night fight erupted in gunfire in Katz Plaza in the Cultural District just as crowds were dispersing after the holiday fireworks show.