Self-Defense Shootout Kills Grandmother; Suspect On LooseBullets Fly On Street In Pittsburgh's Beltzhoover AreaPOSTED: 5:53 pm EDT September 24,
2008 PITTSBURGH -- While two sisters sat outside watching children play in the afternoon daylight, a gun battle broke out and left one of the women -- a grandmother -- dead.Pittsburgh police issued a homicide warrant Wednesday for 18-year-old Dale Shelton, who they said started the Sept. 24 shootout that killed an innocent woman and wounded two more people in the city's Beltzhoover neighborhood."These young kids today, just a lost generation," said neighbor Harold Graham. "They have no regards for themselves or nobody else."According to police, Shelton was a passenger in a car on Curtin Street when he spotted a 17-year-old who he thought had robbed him in the past. Shelton got out of the car and started shooting at the juvenile, who returned fire."I seen people scrambling up the street and bullet casings on the ground," one witness told WTAE Channel 4 Action News after the shooting, which police described as being reminiscent of "the wild west."At the time, 56-year-old Sandra Stewart was sitting outside her home with four grandchildren and her 59-year-old sister. One of the bullets struck Stewart in the head, and she later died."The bullet that fatally wounded Ms. Stewart was a .40-caliber bullet. We have also confirmed that the casing found in the area where Dale Shelton was shooting was the same caliber that fatally wounded Ms. Stewart," Police Chief Nate Harper said.Police said the initial shooting prompted a 27-year-old man to fire his gun to protect himself and his family. That man is not facing charges because "his conduct involves self-defense issues that we are unable to get past legally," a spokesman for District Attorney Stephen Zappala said.In addition to homicide, police said Shelton is wanted for attempted homicide, carrying a firearm without a license, aggravated assault and recklessly endangering another person.The juvenile will be charged with a firearms violation, police said.Police said the victim's sister -- later identified as Dorothy Johnson -- suffered a gunshot wound to the hand, and a friend -- Steve Alston -- was shot in the leg."We were frantic. We love Miss Dorothy, we love her sister, we love her family," Nicole Moye-Jones said. "She does a lot of things for this neighborhood. She has cookouts. When a lot of us can't eat, she feeds the whole neighborhood. We're really sad right now."Johnson and Alston have been released from the hospital."I thank God that they got an arrest warrant out for someone who might have done this," Graham said."I am physically sick to my stomach today for what has taken place. I didn't sleep well last night," said City Councilman Bruce Kraus. Related Links:
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