Fatal Overnight Mt. Washington Shooting Second This Week

Shooter With Dreads Or Braids Runs Away

POSTED: 7:42 am EDT June 19, 2008
UPDATED: 6:02 pm EDT June 19, 2008

PITTSBURGH -- Police are investigating an overnight shooting at a bar in Pittsburgh's Mount Washington neighborhood.

A fight broke out among several people at Sonny's Place on Shiloh Street just after midnight on Thursday, and shots were fired, police said.

"When a fight broke out inside, during the fight, a short black male with braids or dreadlocks pulled out a gun," said Cmdr. Thomas Stangrecki of the Pittsburgh Police Department.

Brandon Alton, 23, of the Arlington neighborhood, was hit in the upper torso and was taken to UPMC Mercy hospital, where he later died.

So far, the shooter has only been described as a short, black man with dreadlocks or long braids who fled the scene.

No arrests have been made.

Mount Washington Community Development Corporation's Alphonso Randolph, who works to better the neighborhood, said the latest crime has him frustrated.

"The younger crowd, they start coming in, bringing friends or coming from somewhere else to just come here, and these things happen," he said.

Thursday's shooting was the second in Mount Washington this week. On Sunday, someone fired on a group of teens sitting on the front porch of a home.

Raymond Reese, 15, died after being hit in the chest. Jesse Robinson, 16, was paralyzed. A trust fund has been set up at the Mount Washington PNC Bank on Shiloh Street.

"When people are afraid to come out of their homes and weren't 10, 15 years ago, but today, they are, (and) there's a problem," said Randolph.

Community group One Vision, One Life gathered in Mount Washington Thursday evening and is asking anyone with information on either of this week's shootings to come forward.

Previous Stories: