Six people were injured in a shooting outside a Pittsburgh church where the funeral was taking place for a 20-year-old man who was recently fatally shot, the Pittsburgh police commander said, Richard Ford. Two people, including a teenager, have been charged with attempted murder in connection with Friday’s shooting, authorities said Saturday.
All six victims were in stable condition after the attack, which Ford called a “targeted fire”.
Ford initially reported that six people were shot. However, the Pittsburgh Department of Public Safety later clarified that only five people were shot and the sixth person was injured while trying to escape.
Just after noon on Friday, police received a tip from ShotSpotter that five shots were fired in the area of Destiny of Faith Church, Ford said. Another alert came shortly after about 15 more shots were fired.
Police responded to the church, where a funeral was underway for John Hornezes, who was one of three killed in a filming in the city on October 15, according to CBS Pittsburgh. Friday’s shooting occurred outside the church, Ford said.
Four victims self-transported to the hospital, Ford said. One person was evacuated from the scene in critical condition. A sixth victim had left the scene and was taken to hospital. One victim was taken to Pittsburgh Children’s Hospital while the others went to Allegheny General Hospital, Ford said. Their ages have not been published.
The victim, who was in critical condition, was returned to stable condition, police said later Friday afternoon.
Police do not yet have a motive for the shooting, but Ford said “there is reason to believe there were clearly specific people targeted.”
Ford added that there were “several” suspects and that police had “good video” of the incident.
Late Friday evening, Pittsburgh Public Safety reported that two persons of interest had been arrested. On Saturday, the department announced that Shawn Davis, 19, and a 16-year-old boy were arrested in connection with the shooting for attempted homicide, criminal conspiracy, aggravated assault and firearms.
“It’s probably, in my pastoral ministry that I’ve been doing for over 30 years, it’s been one of the most devastating days of my life, I would say,” said Reverend Brenda Gregg, pastor at the Destiny of Faith church, said at a news conference Friday afternoon.
The investigation is ongoing.
