2 minors dead, 8 wounded in shooting at Pittsburgh party
(NewsNation) — Two people were killed and at least 8 were injured in a shooting incident across several locations in East Allegheny, a neighborhood on Pittsburgh’s North Side, officials said.
Two male victims died at the hospital, police said, and eight more people were being treated for gunshot wounds. A police release initially said nine others were injured, but Pittsburgh Police Chief Scott Schubert revised the numbers at a noon press conference Sunday.
Police say several teens were observed fleeing the area on foot and by vehicle from an Airbnb property that had been rented on Suismon Street and Madison Avenue just after 1 a.m. on Sunday. About 200 people were inside at the time, many of them underage, police said.
Police say as many as 50 rounds were fired inside, prompting some attendees to jump out the windows, sustaining injuries from their fall such as broken bones and lacerations.
Shell casings from rifles and pistols were found at the scene, Pittsburgh police commander John Fisher told a local news media. Investigators were gathering evidence from as many as eight crime scenes spanning a few blocks in the area after the shooting.
The names of the two youths who died weren’t immediately released. No arrests were immediately reported and police didn’t release information about any suspects.
Allegheny General Health reported that seven people were treated at the hospital and one at Jefferson Hospital for gunshot wounds or other injuries. but officials declined to release their conditions or other information
Airbnb spokesperson Ben Breit confirmed the house was rented through the company. He said that the booker, who would have had to be 18 or older per Airbnb rules, has received a lifetime ban. Breit’s statement says the party was thrown without the knowledge of the host, whose listing banned parties and advertised an overnight noise curfew.
Breit said Airbnb was cooperating with authorities: “We share the Pittsburgh community’s outrage regarding this tragic gun violence. Our hearts go out to all who were impacted — including loved ones of those who lost their lives, injured victims and neighbors.”
Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey condemned the violence, which he attributed in part to a failure to get guns off the streets and provide adequate resources to communities. He said the city would call a meeting with local leaders to get feedback on a new, citywide approach to public safety.
“The time is now for us to move with a sense of urgency to bring justice to the victims and peace to our city,” Gainey, who is in isolation because of a recent COVID-19 exposure, said in a statement.
This story is developing. Check back for updates.