Morning Roundup: Man accused of shooting at Downtown groups; 1 injured in I-79 crash
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Tuesday, July 2:
Police man fired shots at groups in Downtown Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh police are investigating after they say a man fired at least two shots toward a group of people standing outside a store Monday evening in the 500 block of Liberty Avenue.
A witness told police that a man fired at least two shots around 7:45 p.m. before running away with another group of people along Liberty Avenue, police spokeswoman Cara Cruz said.
There were no injuries reported in the incident, Cruz said.
Police have video showing a man, who appeared to be in his late teens or early 20s, walking up and opening fire with a semi-automatic handgun, Cruz said.
Officers processed evidence at the scene. Police continue their investigation.
West Virginia woman stopped with loaded gun at airport
A West Virginia woman was stopped from bringing her husband’s loaded gun through a security checkpoint at Pittsburgh International Airport on Monday, according to the Transportation Security Administration.
The .22-caliber handgun was loaded with five bullets and was in the her carry-on bag. The woman, who was not identified by TSA, told officials she did not know her husband’s gun was in her bag.
Allegheny County Police confiscated the weapon.
“This is an excellent example of why it is so important the individuals pack their own bags; so they can ensure that there is nothing prohibited or illegal inside,” said Karen Keys-Turner, TSA’s Federal Security Director for the airport. “It’s the busy Independence Day travel period, and this is no time to be caught with an illegal or prohibited item among your carry-on items. It slows down the line, and this is a very busy place. Nobody wants to wait in a checkpoint line because someone with a gun was careless and brought his gun with him.”
Civil penalties for bringing a weapon into a checkpoint can reach up to $15,000, depending on the weapon and circumstances.
It’s the 21st gun confiscated this year at the Pittsburgh airport. In 2023, 44 guns were recovered — the most ever.
Man injured in I-79 crash in Butler County
A 32-year-old man was flown to a hospital with what is believed to be serious injuries following a crash Monday night on Interstate 79 in Muddy Creek Township.
Police told TribLive news partner WTAE, the man was driving in the right lane of I-79 north when a driver in the left lane attempted to merge.
In an attempt to avoid hitting the merging vehicle, the man drove off the road, hitting an embankment and rolling multiple times, WTAE said. He was thrown from the vehicle.
There were no other reported injuries in the crash.
People escape house fire in Ingram
Several people escaped a house fire in Ingram on Monday night, WTAE reported.
The fire started at about 11 p.m. on Leslie Street. There were no reported injuries, the station said.
The cause of the fire is unclear.
North Hills DUI task force to conduct traffic detail
The North Hills DUI task force announced it will conduct a traffic detail this weekend, July 5-7.
It is the 28th year for the North Hills force and, to date, there have been 257 checkpoints or roving patrols conducted. There have been 2,245 people tested for DUI and, of those, 1,060 were arrested, according to the force.
Communities in the task force include Aspinwall, Blawnox, Bradford Woods, Etna, Millvale, Franklin Park and West View boroughs, and Hampton, Indiana, Marshall, O’Hara, Pine, Richland, Ross, Shaler, West Deer and McCandless townships.
Allegheny County police seek tips on unsolved homicide
Allegheny County Police on Monday put out a call for information regarding an unsolved homicide from May 2023 in Homestead.
Police say the shooting took place at 11:30 p.m. May 5, 2023, in the 100 block of East 17th Avenue in Homestead. Dominic Sanner, 16, was shot once in his chest and died at the scene, police said.
Police encourage those with information to call the tip line at 1-833-255-8477 (ALL-TIPS). Callers can remain anonymous.
Kellen Stepler is a TribLive reporter covering the Allegheny Valley and Burrell school districts and surrounding areas. He joined the Trib in April 2023. He can be reached at kstepler@triblive.com.
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