Strip District Shooting Worries D.A.

Gun violence in the city's nightclub district has raised questions about safety in the area and spurred authorities to study the situation.

The Nuisance Bar Task Force, which is comprised of the Allegheny County and District Attorney's offices, is coming up with a plan to crack down on crime in the Strip District, Allegheny County District Attorney Steven Zappala said Monday.

"We are looking at all the bars in the Strip (and), basically, the circumstances that surround these crimes when they are committed," Zappala said. "We are not just looking at the violent crimes, but auto theft and vandalism."

Police said that they have a suspect in custody following an early Monday shooting in a parking lot on Smallman Street near Donzi's. The victim was shot in the face, but was not seriously injured, and is expected to be released from a local hospital this week.

That incident came less than three months after another shooting farther down the street. Allegheny County Coroner Cyril Wecht recently recommended that no charges be filed against police in that Jul. 29 shooting, which took place outside Banana Joe's and resulted in two deaths.

Zappala said that specifics of the task force's plan will be announced in a few weeks.

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Previous Stories:

• September 15, 2000: Wecht: Police Shooting In Strip Justified
• September 1, 2000: Tempers Flare At Strip Shooting Inquest
• July 29, 2000: Shooting In Strip District Leaves 2 Dead