Western PA News

PITTSBURGH — A man has died after a shooting in Carrick on Sunday night.

Police tell 11 News that the call came in just before 9 p.m., for a person shot in the 500 block of Maytide Street.

Source: One man killed in shooting in Carrick neighborhood

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Police say six people are dead and at least ten others have been injured after a shooting early Sunday morning in downtown Sacramento.

Sacramento Police Chief Kathy Lester said at a news conference that police were patrolling the area at about 2 a.m. when they heard gunfire. When they arrived at the scene, they found a large crowd gathered on the street and six people dead. Another 10 either took themselves or were transported to hospitals.

Police are asking witnesses to submit video or photos to help them investigate. Sacramento City Hall is open for families of potential victims to gather at.

Source: Downtown Sacramento Shooting: 6 dead, at least 10 injured | Updates

New York (CNN)General Motors is recalling more than 680,000 SUVs due to a defect in their windshield wipers.

The 2014 to 2015 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles are being recalled because the the windshield wipers could fall, due to the chance of its ball joints corroding or wearing away.

High-tech cars take the pain out of recalls, but there’s a catch

The action covers 681,509 units, according to a release by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which added that an estimated 1% of cars have the defect.

“General Motors is voluntarily recalling certain 2014-2015 model year Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles to replace the front windshield wiper-modules in these vehicles,” said Daniel Flores, a GM communications manager.

Source: General Motors recalls more than 680,000 vehicles due to windshield wipers – CNN

PITTSBURGH —After three deadly shootings, in less than 24 hours, a young group of teens held a protest in honor of their young friend’s life and in hopes of stopping gun violence.A large crowd gathered at the intersection of Frankstown Avenue and North Homewood Avenue — the spot 15-year-old Dayvon Vickers was shot while riding his bike in Homewood Wednesday around 6 p.m.

“We want peace in our streets, put down these guns we’re trying to have fun,” said Raniaya Williams, the teen who organized the protest Saturday. “If it was your son or (whoever) that got killed, you would do the same thing for him. So we’re here to rep his life, we’re here to stop the violence.”This content is imported from Twitter.

Vickers was one of three victims in deadly shootings within a 24-hour period this week.Police say around 11:45 p.m. Tuesday, Devonte White was gunned down in Pittsburgh’s Brookline neighborhood and roughly 15 minutes after Vickers was shot on Wednesday, a call came in for a man shot in the head along Kingsboro Street in Mt. Washington.

“We’re ready to take back our community, no more youth dying,” said Antwon Claybourne, a friend of Vickers, who also helped organize the protest.

“This violence got to stop. That’s why we’re here today, we’re here to celebrate Dayvon’s life and put an end to this gun violence, all types of violence.”

During the protest Saturday, both Vickers’ grandma and godmother spoke to the crowd:”I don’t know if he stumbled along the way but this is just a nightmare and I just want to thank every last one of (you) for supporting me,” said Vickers’ grandma.

“I really don’t have no anger in me because my mind is a peace because I know where my baby is at because when he was raised, he was in the church.”

Vickers’ family and friends said he was aspiring to be a mechanic when he grew up, and stood at the corner selling bottles of water to save up for the bike he was riding when he was gunned down.”He sold so much water, he was a little entrepreneur, a little hustler, but he got his bike, he did get it before he left here,” said Monica Beeman.

“Very bright, he was like an old soul. Even though he was in school, he always had a mind of always progressing, doing things better, getting stuff done.”

“He would not dare touch a piece of drug. He sold waters to get the bike he was shot off,”

Claybourne told Pittsburgh’s Action News 4. “This truly is sad, he was really a good kid, he did what he was supposed to, he was never in no mess, it’s just really unfortunate.”

Police are still asking for the public’s assistance with any information regarding the shooting deaths of 15-year-old Dayvon Vickers, 23-year-old Micah Stoner and 29-year-old Devonte White.At this point, no arrests made for any of the shootings. Anyone with information can call 412-323-7800, tips can remain anonymous.

Also on Saturday, the Community Empowerment Association held a public meeting to hear from resident’s about violence in the city and what can be done about it.

The group is calling on increased police presence and more cameras. They’re also calling on Mayor Ed Gainey to help with their new campaign called “Clean Up The Block.”

Source: Youth hold anti-violence protest after violent week in Pittsburgh

Estelle Harris, the iconic voice behind Mrs. Potato Head in the “Toy Story” franchise, has died at 93, her family confirmed.

Harris, who also played mother Estelle Costanza for six years in NBC’s “Seinfeld,” passed away from natural causes Saturday evening in Palm Desert, California. Born on April 22, 1928, she was just weeks away from turning 94.

Source: Actress Estelle Harris, ‘Toy Story”s Mrs. Potato Head, dead at 93 | Fox News

LOWER BURRELL, Pa. —

For the second time this year, a lottery ticket with a $1 million prize has been sold at a grocery store in Lower Burrell, Westmoreland County.

A winning ticket in the $1,000,000 Cash King scratch-off game was sold at Community Supermarket on Leechburg Road, the Pennsylvania Lottery announced Friday.

Source: $1 million winning lottery ticket sold in Westmoreland County

By Tim Schooley – Reporter, Pittsburgh Business Times

PITTSBURGH — California discounter Grocery Outlet is targeting the Pittsburgh area in which to expand as part of a larger eastern push.

Layla Kasha confirmed the basics of the retailer scouting in the region in a prepared statement.

“Over the last year, Grocery Outlet has made expanding in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Maryland a priority for the company.

Click here to read more from the Pittsburgh Business Times.

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Source: Grocery Outlet launches store search in Pittsburgh as part of Pennsylvania expansion – WPXI

A federal judge on Friday sentenced the former co-owner of a Brownsville Road grocery store to probation for food stamp fraud and ordered him to pay $56,000 in restitution along with a $2,000 fine.

U.S. District Judge Mark Hornak imposed a term of 30 months on Meg Gurung, 36, a native of Bhutan who with his brother Ago Gurung owned Gurung Brothers LLC.

The pair had pleaded guilty in November after waiving grand jury indictment.

From June 2019 through February 2021, the brothers exchanged food stamps for ineligible, non-food items and cash at their store in violation of U.S. Department of Agriculture regulations.

The fraud was revealed during multiple undercover visits to the store, prosecutors said, during which agents saw the brothers violating program rules.

In one example from Oct. 20, 2020, Meg allowed a customer to buy ineligible items and then made changes in the register to make it look like the customer had bought approved food. Meg also exchanged Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits for cash in violation of the law and told the customer not to tell anyone about what he was doing.

Prosecutors did not request prison but asked for probation for Meg and a restitution order in part to send a message to the public that the food stamp program is being administered properly.

“For the public to believe that their government will spend tax funds wisely to provide food to low-income persons through the program, [the USDA] must be able to obtain truthful compliance from store owners,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Gal-Or. “Respect for the law is lessened if stores participating in the SNAP program and their owners are allowed to flout the USDA’s authority and unlawfully obtain government money.”

She requested that Judge Hornak order him and his brother to pay $56,436 in restitution to the SNAP program.

Source: Former Pittsburgh grocery owner gets federal probation for $56k food stamp fraud | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

By WPXI.com News Staff

PITTSBURGH — A woman is facing charges in connection with the stabbing of two children in the Hill District at dawn on Friday.

Sydnie Jefferson, 29, is the mother of the children who were stabbed.

According to a criminal complaint, Jefferson admitted to police that she had stabbed both boys with a kitchen knife while they were in bed. The complaint says that one of the boys was asleep at the start of the stabbing.

Sirens and screams filled the streets of the Hill District after the incident.

According to police, the children’s mother called 911 to turn herself in after the stabbing.

Source: 2 children stabbed in Pittsburgh’s Hill District, mother facing charges – WPXI

The victim told police he was leaving the apartment building when another man began shooting.

Source: Man shot in leg while leaving apartment building in Pittsburgh’s Arlington Heights neighborhood

Construction crews doing sidewalk repair and street work at the closed intersection of Wood Street and Sixth Avenue now have some additional work to do, after a stolen vehicle crashed into the closed intersection Thursday morning.

Just before 10:30 a.m., Pittsburgh police responded to the 300 block of Sixth Avenue for a vehicle reported stolen from the valet area outside the Duquesne Club.

Responding officers tracked the vehicle, which traveled to the North Side and then back Downtown before crashing into the “Road Closed” signs at the intersection of Wood Street and Liberty Avenue.

The vehicle drove into a large construction hole set with rebar and freshly poured concrete, and came to rest against a curb.

Police said the driver, Kennedy Lyons, 27, faces charges

Source: Pittsburgh police: Stolen vehicle crashes into Downtown construction site, the suspect’s fourth arrest in a week | TribLIVE.com

Two people have been arrested and charged in a shooting that left an 18-year-old dead.

By WPXI.com News Staff

Two people have been arrested and charged in a shooting in Pittsburgh’s Bon Air that left an 18-year-old dead.

Tymair Cox, 18, of Brookline, and Michael Morgan, 18, of Beltzhoover, have both been charged in the shooting.

Cox is facing charges of criminal homicide, criminal conspiracy, firearms not to be carried without a license, and possession of a firearm by a minor.

Morgan faces criminal homicide and conspiracy.

Source: 2 arrested, charged in shooting death of 18-year-old in Pittsburgh’s Bon Air – WPXI

Several middle school students who became sick after ingesting “drug-laced edibles” were treated at the hospital Thursday, the South Allegheny School District said.

Source: South Allegheny Middle School students sickened from ‘drug-laced edibles,’ district says

? CHECK YOUR TICKETS!

The ticket matched four of the five white balls drawn, 3-7-21-31-37, and the red Powerball 11.

Source: $150K winning Powerball ticket sold in Allegheny County

The House is set to pass legislation on Friday to legalize marijuana nationwide, an effort that has unprecedented levels of support in both chambers of Congress.   The bill is likely to pass the house.

Source: House set to pass marijuana legalization Friday

The five-seat plane crashed on Wednesday evening with three crew members on board, the Navy said. Two were rescued.

Source: Navy Plane Crashes Along Virginia’s Eastern Shore, Killing One Crew Member – The New York Times

PITTSBURGH, PA — A 15-year-old teenager was shot and killed Wednesday while riding his bike in Homewood.

Just after 6 p.m., Pittsburgh Police from Zone 5 responded to the 800 block of North Homewood Avenue for a ShotSpotter alert of four rounds fired. Officers found the boy with a gunshot wound to the head.

He was taken to the hospital and died shortly afterward.

Violent Crime Unit detectives are investigating.Police are asking anyone with information to call headquarters at (412) 323-7800.

Source: Deadly Bike Ride: 15-Year-Old Pittsburgh Youth Fatally Shot | Pittsburgh, PA Patch

PITTSBURGH —Pittsburgh police were investigating after a man robbed the Walgreens store on Penn Avenue in the city’s Point Breeze neighborhood.

The robbery happened a little before 9:45 p.m. Tuesday.

A Pittsburgh Public Safety spokesperson said a man entered the store and threatened the clerk with a gun, though no gun was seen.

The robber got away with cash from the register.

No one was hurt.

Source: Walgreens robbed on Penn Ave. in Pittsburgh

By Taylor Spirito, WPXI.com

PITTSBURGH — A man died as the result of a shooting in Pittsburgh’s Mount Washington neighborhood.

According to Pittsburgh Police, the shooting happened just before 6:15 p.m. on Kingsboro Street at Pasadena Street.

Police are investigating a shooting that occurred on Kingsboro St. at Pasadena St. on Mount Washington just before 6:15 p.m. An adult male was taken to the hospital where he later died.

Major Crimes detectives are investigating.

More here ➡️ https://t.co/9R78S9khYO pic.twitter.com/juImd2vKOS

— Pittsburgh Police (@PghPolice) March 30, 2022

Source: Man killed in shooting in Pittsburgh’s Mount Washington neighborhood – WPXI

Several tractor-trailers were involved in the chain-reaction crash this week on Interstate 81, about 50 miles northeast of Harrisburg, Pa.

Source: 80-Car Pileup on Pennsylvania Highway Leaves 6 Dead – The New York Times

911 confirmed to Channel 11 that police, fire and EMS are on scene for a crash in Shaler.

Source: ‘Serious crash investigation’ in Pittsburgh’s Shaler neighborhood

Officers found a male victim who had been shot multiple times outside of a home in Brookline.

Devonte White, of Wilkinsburg, was killed in the shooting on the 1100 block of Chelton Avenue around 10 p.m.

Police said medics pronounced him dead at the scene.

Police said there is no suspect description at this time and the investigation is ongoing.

Source: One person found shot, killed outside home in Pittsburgh’s Brookline neighborhood

Shooting happened late Tuesday night

Source: Man in critical condition following McKeesport shooting

JERUSALEM — A gunman on a motorcycle opened fire in a crowded city in central Israel late Tuesday, methodically gunning down victims as he killed at least five people in the second mass shooting rampage this week. The shooter was killed by police.

The shooting appeared to be the latest in a string of attacks by Arab assailants ahead of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and the anniversary of last year’s Gaza war. Israeli media said the attacker was a Palestinian from the West Bank. The previous two attacks, carried out by Arab citizens of Israel inspired by the Islamic State extremist group, have raised concerns of further violence.

Source: Gunman kills 5 in mass shooting spree in central Israel – ABC News

CENTER TOWNSHIP, Pa. —

State police said a police chase spanned several Beaver County communities early Tuesday morning.

Police said they pursuit began around 1:20 a.m. on Interstate 376 near Hopewell when the vehicle began taking off at a high rate of speed.

State police said the pursuit continued from Interstate 376 into Center Township and numerous attempts were made to stop the vehicle.Police said the vehicle became disabled on Wagner Road and that the suspect tried to run off but was arrested.State police have identified the suspect as Krzysztof McCauley, 18.Investigators said charges are pending against him.

Source: Man arrested following police chase through several communities in Beaver County

The U.S. president condemned the Russian president and his actions in Ukraine.

U.S. President Joe Biden did not mince his words when he said that Russian President Vladimir Putin “cannot remain in power” while on a visit to Poland in March 2022. The comments came amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and as Biden met with refugees, European leaders, and NATO allies.

In a roughly 30-minute speech at the Royal Castle in Warsaw, Poland, Biden said (emphasis ours):

​​A dictator bent on rebuilding an empire will never erase a people’s love for liberty.  Brutality will never grind down their will to be free.  Ukraine will never be a victory for Russia — for free people refuse to live in a world of hopelessness and darkness.

We will have a different future — a brighter future rooted in democracy and principle, hope and light, of decency and dignity, of freedom and possibilities.

For God’s sake, this man cannot remain in power. 

Source: Did Biden Say Putin ‘Cannot Remain in Power’? | Snopes.com

 

(CNN)Will Smith has issued an apology for striking presenter Chris Rock at Sunday’s Academy Awards.

In a post on Instagram on Monday afternoon, Smith called his behavior “unacceptable and inexcusable.”

“Jokes at my expense are a part of the job, but a joke about Jada’s medical condition was too much for me to bear and I reacted emotionally,” he wrote. “I would like to publicly apologize to you, Chris. I was out of line and I was wrong. I am embarrassed and my actions were not indicative of the man I want to be. There is no place for violence in a world of love and kindness.”

Smith added in his post that, “Violence in all forms is poisonous and destructive.”

He also included in his note an apology to “the Academy, the producers of the show, all the attendees and everyone watching around the world,” as well as the family of tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams and those involved with the film for which he won his best actor award on Sunday.

Source: Will Smith apologizes to Chris Rock over slapping incident at Oscars – CNN

PITTSBURGH —

A Pittsburgh woman is accused of running over her fiancé with her car on Friday night.

Tina McAfee, 44, is facing several charges.

Pittsburgh police said the incident happened around 11:45 p.m. on the 100 block of Knox Avenue in the city’s Knoxville neighborhood.

Police said security camera video showed McAfee running over the man with her car.According to a criminal complaint, McAfee told police she thought she hit a board.

Police said she was the one who called 911 when she couldn’t move her car.

McAfee is in the Allegheny County Jail and faces a preliminary hearing next month.

Source: Woman accused of running over her fiancé with her car in Pittsburgh

PITTSBURGH —

A father and son are charged with breaking into an old Pittsburgh church to steal items from inside.

David Kearns, 53, and Justin Kearns, 30, both of Pittsburgh, are charged with burglary.

According to a criminal complaint, Pittsburgh police were called to the old Saint Lawrence Church on Penn Avenue in the city’s Garfield neighborhood on Monday.

UPMC currently owns the church which is fenced off and is being demolished.

Police said the fencing was broken into and the Kearns were inside.According to the criminal complaint, David Kearns told police he was there to see the architecture because he’s in construction.

But police said Justin Kearns told officers he and his father were there to “scrap.”

Source: Father and son charged with breaking into church in Pittsburgh