2016 Wilkinsburg shooting
| 2016 Wilkinsburg shooting | |
|---|---|
Location of Pennsylvania in the United States
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| Location | Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania, United States |
| Date | March 9, 2016 c. 11:00 p.m. |
| Weapons |
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| Deaths | 6 (including an unborn baby) |
| Injured | 3 |
| Perpetrator | Unknown |
| Participant | 2 |
On March 9, 2016, six people were killed and three others injured in a mass shooting at a suburban house in Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania, near Pittsburgh. The two gunmen who committed the shooting remain at large. One of the slain victims was a pregnant woman, and her unborn baby, who also died, was added to the number of fatalities on the day after the shooting.
Contents
Shooting
The shooting occurred while the victims were in the process of conducting a backyard party. About fifteen people were in attendance at the time. According to officials, shortly before 11:00 p.m., one gunman who was situated in a nearby alley fired shots from a .40-caliber pistol and forced several people onto the back porch. The other gunman, equipped with a 7.62 mm caliber rifle and situated in the yard of an adjacent residence, then ambushed them as they tried to enter the house through a backdoor and shot the victims. Afterwards, the gunmen fled the scene on foot.[1][2][3]
Witnesses reported hearing 30–40 gunshots;[4] a total of 48 shell casings were recovered from the scene.[5] Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen Zappala described the shooting as a "planned and calculated" attack.[3] He added that he believed one or two of the victims may have been targeted and the rest were collateral damage.[4] A $20,000 reward for information on the shooting was announced by officials.[3] A number of people were questioned, with one being named as a suspect despite not being charged, though no arrests were ultimately made as of April 21.[6]
Victims
Four people died at the scene and a fifth died after being taken to UPMC Mercy.[1][2][7][8][9] On March 10, the eight-month-old fetus of one of the victims was added to the list of fatalities, bringing the death toll to six.[1] The victims are:[5]
- Jerry Shelton, 35
- Tina Shelton, 37
- Brittany Powell, 27, sister of Jerry Shelton
- Chanetta Powell, 25, sister of Jerry Shelton; her unborn baby was also killed
- Shada Mahone, 26
Three others were injured in the shooting. Two of them, both men, were in critical condition, while the third, a woman, was treated and released.[1]
Reactions
Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf issued a statement, offering support and assistance in the investigation. U.S. Representative Keith Rothfus called the shooting a "senseless act of violence" and expressed his condolences to the families of the victims.[5] U.S. Senator Bob Casey, Jr. issued a statement urging more action to be taken against the issue of gun violence.[2]
References
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