Police: Sexual assault occurred before double shooting in Mount Oliver

A 22-year-old man is facing several charges after police say he sexually assaulted a woman in a Mount Oliver park early Saturday morning, leading to both people being shot.

Maurice Ruffin is charged with rape, sexual assault, unlawful restraint, aggravated assault, receiving stolen property and simple assault in connection with the incident that occurred in Ormsby Avenue Park & Playground.

Officers said they responded to the park around 1 a.m. after Allegheny County dispatchers received reports of a woman in distress, according to a release from county police. Responding officers, who heard a woman screaming from inside the vehicle, approached on foot and then heard two gunshots coming from inside the car.

One of the officers shot at the vehicle three times, hitting the tire and another vehicle, according to police.

There was no indication either person was struck by rounds fired by the officer, police said.

Officers ordered the occupants out of the vehicle and discovered a 21-year-old woman with a gunshot wound the the leg and and man, later identified as Ruffin, shot in the arm. Police said earlier that both were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Mount Oliver police requested the assistance of the Allegheny County Police Homicide Unit, who learned that a sexual assault was occurring inside the vehicle, officials said. During the assault there was a struggle for a gun, which caused it to fire twice, hitting both Ruffin and the woman, police said.

Court documents for Ruffin were not immediately available.

Anyone with information regarding the incident can call the county police tip line at 1-833-255-8477.