Percy Brown, a retired steelworker from McKees Rocks but comes to McDonalds for coffee almost every day, said he was standing by Sally’s Hair Salon, when he heard a gun shot.
“I heard the shot and saw the officer come around the corner with his gun out, then I looked and saw the guy fall, but didn’t see the other guy,” he said. “Then the officers and the guy’s friend were keeping pressure on his chest until the paramedics came. I don’t know what these kids are all hanging out down here bring their babies down here and everything. They need more police, more security down here, these kids are down here every day they sell dope around here and everything.”
That area of Downtown has seen a number of violent incidents in recent years, including the beating of a Black man by a group of five Whites after a concert in 2015, and more recently the July 4 shooting of four people and the 500 or so kids who raged through the area in a series of rolling fistfights during the regatta.
In a press statement, Mayor Bill Peduto commended paramedics, and city and Port Authority police on their response and for the quick arrest, adding he is asking for a greater police presence downtown.
“We will be increasing both uniformed and plain clothes officer patrols in critical areas downtown during after school hours,” he said. “In addition, we are working with Port Authority and Pittsburgh Public Schools police to assist us in protecting everyone downtown and lessen the chance of retaliatory action. “
Like us at https://www.facebook.com/pages/New-Pittsburgh-Courier/143866755628836?ref=hl
Follow @NewPghCourier on Twitter https://twitter.com/NewPghCourier
About Post Author
