2 miners dead, at least 8 injured

PITTSBURGH – Shots fired at a party in Pittsburgh early Sunday left two minors dead and at least eight others injured, police said.

The shooting occurred around 12:30 p.m. during a party at a short-term rental property that had more than 200 people inside, many of them underage, Pittsburgh police said in a statement. hurry. Two male victims died in hospital, police said, and eight others were being treated for gunshot wounds. A police statement initially said nine other people were injured, but Pittsburgh Police Chief Scott Schubert revised the numbers at a midday news conference.

Others were injured trying to flee, and at least two people suffered broken bones while jumping out of the building’s windows, authorities said. Arriving officers reported hearing gunshots in the area and seeing several youths fleeing the area on foot and in vehicles, police said.

According to the police, no less than 50 bullets were fired inside and several others outside. Rifle and pistol casings were found at the scene, Pittsburgh Police Commander John Fisher told WTAE-TV. Police are processing evidence at no less than eight separate crime scenes spanning a few blocks around the scene of the shooting, police said.

“You’ve got booze, you’ve got minors here, and you’ve got guns — it’s a deadly combination at any type of event, and the end result is tragedy,” Fisher told WPXI-TV. .

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The names of the two deceased youths were not immediately released. No arrests were immediately reported and police did not immediately release information on the suspects.

Allegheny General Health reported that seven people were treated at Allegheny General Hospital and one at Jefferson Hospital for gunshot wounds or other injuries. but officials declined to release their terms or other information.

Neighbor Mitchell Wilston, 30, told The Associated Press that he and his wife were away during the shooting, but before they left they saw the neighborhood packed with people, with cars parked the wrong way round in the street and a queue in front of the rented house.

“It was so obvious there was going to be a problem – there was a line of 14-year-olds trying to get into this place,” he said. The house has been rented out in the past for bachelor parties or other events, or for families of baseball players because of its proximity to the stadium, but no problems arose, he said. .

Airbnb spokesperson Ben Breit confirmed that the house was rented through the company. He said the booker, who should have been 18 or older under Airbnb rules, received a lifetime ban. Breit’s statement says the party was held without the knowledge of the host, whose listing banned parties and announced a nightly curfew.

Breit said Airbnb is cooperating with authorities: “We share the Pittsburgh community’s outrage at this tragic gun violence. Our hearts go out to everyone affected, including the loved ones of those who lost their lives. lives, injured victims and neighbours.”

In the morning, Wilston found his wife’s white car spattered with blood, possibly from someone fleeing the shooting and trying to hide behind the vehicle, he said.

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“It is extremely, extremely disconcerting to see that the way the bullets were fired was perpendicular to our house,” he said, adding that he could see bullet holes in a surrounding building from his office. and in another building from another window.

Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey condemned the violence, which he attributed in part to the failure to get guns off the streets and provide adequate resources to communities. He said the city would convene a meeting with local leaders to get feedback on a new approach to citywide public safety.

“Now is the time for us to act with a sense of urgency to bring justice to victims and peace to our city,” Gainey, who is in isolation due to recent exposure to COVID-19, said in a communicated.