Shooting in Pitcairn kills 2 teenagers
Two people believed to be teenagers were shot and killed in Pitcairn on Thursday afternoon, authorities said.
In a news release, the Allegheny County Police Department said officers were called to Shaw Alley near Wood Street for a report of a shooting around 3 p.m.
At the scene, first responders found two victims who had been shot, Allegheny County police said. The two victims were taken to a local hospital, where they died. Police later confirmed to KDKA that the victims are believed to be teen boys.
"Any death is tragic, and it hits home more when it's a juvenile," Allegheny County Police Sgt. Todd Dolfi said.
The two victims' ages and identities were not immediately released on Thursday evening. It is unclear if there are any suspects or arrests, and the details surrounding what led up to the shooting are unknown.
Authorities do not believe there is an ongoing threat to the community. Anyone with information can call the Allegheny County police tip line at 1-833-ALL-TIPS.
"We believe this to be an isolated incident from the preliminary information that we have," Dolfi said.
Neighbors say violence has to stop
Shahi Carswell has been focused on keeping young people in the Pitcairn community out of trouble.
"The last thing I'm gonna do is see one of these kids get shot," Carswell said.
On Thursday, it's not what he saw, but what he heard that raised red flags.
"We heard 10 to 12 shots leaving out of the house," Carswell said.
The shots came from the alley near Wood Street, which was littered with evidence markers.
"To have a homicide right here is a tragic thing for our neighborhood and Pitcairn," Carswell said.
Another neighbor told KDKA they saw three teenagers run from the scene and into a car. They also saw another teenager, who appeared to have been shot, on the ground in the alley.
"It saddens me because these kids in the neighborhood don't really have too much activities to do beside gang violence," Carswell said. "And if you look at it right now, they are playing 'Call of Duty' with themselves, not just in this neighborhood."
Carswell said it's time the community comes together to make sure this doesn't shake their children.
"The children are gonna need us now more than ever," he said.
