Tarentum officials reassure residents in wake of violent crimes

Meridith Ross was inside her Corbet Street antique shop in Tarentum when she heard gunshots ring out just before 3 a.m. Monday.

“I heard people screaming, then pow, pow, pow,” said Ross, who owns Redefined vintage store inside the former Harrison’s men’s shop near the corner of Fifth Avenue. “I dove onto the ground and saw people running by, cars driving by. It was crazy.”

Gunfire in the borough’s business district, on the heels of a fatal stabbing last week near West Tarentum, has community leaders steeling for residents’ unease.

“It’s very scary for our residents,” Councilwoman Carrie Fox said. “We have an excellent police department that goes out of their way to keep us safe.

“It’s unsettling to see these kinds of events anywhere, but when it’s close to home it becomes more frustrating.”

Police are addressing concerns arising from what they called isolated events.

“We understand the apprehension felt by some residents,” Chief William Vakulick said. “Anytime the borough experiences a major issue, the department convenes to discuss what went right, what went wrong and how we can improve. There is a continual evolution of policies and procedures to ensure public safety.”

Two people suffered minor injuries in the wake of Monday’s gunshots.

Police said they found eight 9 mm shell casings at the scene. The victims were not hit by gunfire but suffered cuts and bruises when they fell while running from the gunshots, according to Allegheny County Police.

Freedom Brown of Brackenridge was charged Tuesday in connection with the shooting. She faces charges of terroristic threats and conspiracy to commit aggravated assault.

The shooters have yet to be charged.

On June 4, a 26-year-old man was fatally stabbed along Davidson Street, a typically quiet neighborhood in West Tarentum. Thomas Baczynski died at Allegheny Valley Hospital after a fight involving two other men, according to police.

County police are heading both investigations.

“I’m over it,” Ross said, who owns a similar store along Fourth Avenue.

She already planned to relocate but said Monday’s gunfire would have convinced her to close the Corbet Street location.

“When the bars let out, there’s always undesirables,” she said. “With so many people walking around, it’s hard to believe that there were eight shots missed. Luckily, no one got hurt. I never want to go through that again.”

Allegheny County Police also continue to seek answers in an unsolved homicide from November 2020. Syncere Lee Spruill, 18, of Arnold, died after being shot in a West Tarentum alley. Spruill was shot in the 200 block of Conroy Way after what police called an argument between two groups. In the same incident, a 19-year-old man also was shot but survived.

The case remains open, and no arrests have been made, according to county police.

In December 2021, Arquwonna Wright, 30, was fatally shot outside the Philip Burtner Apartments near Fifth Avenue and Main Street. A Wilkinsburg man was jailed in connection with the crime.

“People just don’t value life anymore,” Fox said.

Councilman Kevin Bertocki said violence seems to be the norm in today’s society, not just in Tarentum.

“Most of the problems seem to happen at night when most people are asleep,” he said. “Our police do a great job, but the failure comes with the system. People are not held accountable for their crimes anymore, so it won’t end until our system has a reboot.”

Pittsburgh resident David Carey said he frequents Tarentum for business, most often in the daytime, and enjoys lunch at many of the eateries. He said he has enjoyed watching the borough’s seeming revitalization.

“You want to see it succeed,” he said. “You don’t want to have to be nervous about walking around.”

Vakulick does not believe there are ongoing threats to public safety.

He said the borough has robust protocols in place to deter crime and catch perpetrators.

The chief said his department has a strong collaboration network with other local law enforcement agencies, sharing information and resources to boost efforts in crime prevention and response.

He also said police have cutting-edge technologies to support investigation capabilities.

“By leveraging advanced analytics and surveillance systems, we will improve our ability to anticipate and prevent criminal activities,” Vakulick said.

Borough Manager Dwight Boddorf said Tarentum is dedicated to maintaining open lines of communication with the public. Boddorf said he regularly updates the borough website, social media and local media outlets with information.

Most recently, the borough joined with Harrison and Brackenridge to institute Savvy Citizen, a notification system for residents.

Police encourage residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activity.

Council President Scott Dadowski said any type of violence is a concern.

“It is an unfortunate sign of the times where people turn to violence more and more to work out problems or disputes,” he said. “There are other ways.”