WEST HOMESTEAD, Pa. -- Police officers held a boot drive Sunday to help the family of a young man shot and killed at Damon's Restaurant pay for funeral costs. No word was available on how much money they raised.

An armed man entered a Waterfront restaurant at closing time and fatally shot an employee on July 13 -- the second fatal shooting at the popular shopping district in as many months.

Police are still searching for the person responsible more then a week after the shooting death.

But any fears that the entertainment district is unsafe are "absolutely incorrect," Homestead Police Chief Jeffrey DeSimone said. "The Waterfront is a safe place."

Video: Watch Jake Ploeger's Report From The Waterfront

Allegheny County homicide detectives said employees were closing Damon's Grill on West Waterfront Drive at about 12:40 a.m. on July 13 when Brian Lee, 19, of West Mifflin, was shot by a robber.

Damon's reopened July 15 after being closed for two days out of respect to Lee, whose car was still parked outside with flowers laid on the windshield.

Another man was shot and killed near the Eat'n Park restaurant on East Waterfront Drive in June. Police have since arrested Freedom Bey and charged him in the death (More). Authorities did not say the incidents are connected.

DeSimone and Homestead Mayor Betty Esper noted that there have been three homicides in 10 years. They also said about 8 million people per year -- or about 40,000 vehicles a day -- visit the Waterfront.

"I understand the perception, but I know what we do down there. I know the protection that they get," Esper said.

DeSimone said that his department got nearly 700 police calls last month, but that number was closer to 1,000 per month in the 1990s.

"This is a tragedy," DeSimone said of the recent shootings. "It is a big problem. It could happen anywhere. It could happen in your town, and a lot of times, it does."

The Waterfront crosses parts of West Homestead, Homestead and Munhall. Esper said she wants a meeting to discuss security concerns with the other two boroughs' mayors and their respective police departments, who are responsible for patrolling the area.

In addition to the normal patrols, police officers are contracted out at the nearby Eat'n Park and Dave and Buster's restaurants.

An employee of the Red Robin restaurant, which is also located near Damon's, said property security was escorting workers to their cars Sunday night.

The Damon's gunman -- described only as a tall, black male -- shot Lee and made another worker open a safe, then fled through a rear door, police said. No surveillance tape of the incident exists.

One person has been questioned in connection with the shooting, but no arrests have been made, police said.

Esper said she wants Developers Diversified Realty, which leases and manages Waterfront property, to install surveillance cameras at the exits and entrances.

The company issued this statement the afternoon of July 14:

"The safety of the shopping center's customers, tenants and staff is a top priority. While the recent incidents have not taken place on our property, we have increased security patrols. In addition, we are scheduled to meet with Homestead Mayor Betty Esper, Homestead Police Chief Desimone, West Homestead Mayor John Dindak, West Homestead Police Chief Deesey, Munhall Mayor Ray Bodmar and Munhall Police Chief Campbell to discuss the situation and the best strategy moving forward."

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