Monroeville police seek man accused of shooting 16-year-old girl at hotel

Police continue to search for a Monroeville man they believe shot a teenage girl in the leg Saturday night at a Monroeville hotel.

Da’Ronte Anthony Brown, 18, is charged with attempted homicide, illegal gun possession and two counts each of aggravated assault and reckless endangerment stemming from an incident that happened around 10:30 p.m. at the Red Roof Inn on Mosside Boulevard.

The 16-year-old shooting victim was taken to a hospitalwith a bullet lodged in her pelvic area, according to a criminal complaint filed in the case. The girl told police the suspect shot her after she refused to have sex with him.

Monroeville police Chief Doug Cole said officers went to apprehend Brown at his Trefoil Court residence Monday afternoon, but he was not there.

“Nobody’s seen him for awhile at that address,” Cole said after officers completed that search. Brown is thought to frequent the Pittsburgh and Penn Hills areas, Cole said.

Brown and a second male suspect arrived to meet the victim and another girl, 14, at the hotel, the complaint said. The victim said she and Brown went into the bathroom and, when she refused to perform a sex act, he became upset and said, “I’ll shoot you in this hotel” and “I’ll shoot this hotel up,” according to police.

The victim asked the two suspects to leave, and they did, but they later returned and were armed with guns, the complaint said.

Brown shot his handgun from outside the room’s doorway, hitting the victim as she was on a bed, police said. The suspects then ran away.

Police said they found a shell casing outside the door.

The victim told police she knew Brown as “Take Off” and had his phone number saved, police said. Brown used his phone to order an Uber ride from an address in the 1100 block of Paulson Avenue in Pittsburgh’s Lincoln-Lemington-Belmar neighborhood and the phone was in use again at the same address following the shooting, police said.

Under terms of a juvenile probation sentence, Brown was supposed to be electronically monitored, but police said the device was not charged and may have been removed.

Pittsburgh police responded Sunday to the 1100 block of Paulson Avenue to assist Monroeville police during a SWAT situation. Cole said Brown’s phone was “pinged” at that address, but he was not found there.

Cole said the girl was still recovering from her injuries Monday afternoon.

Brown, a recent Gateway High School graduate, is to be considered armed and dangerous.

Anyone with information as to his whereabouts should contact Monroeville Police at 412-856-1111.