Strip District Killing Inquest Being Held

The inquest will examine the details of the incident where off-duty Pittsburgh police officers shot and killed Michael Platt, 28, of Pittsburgh. Platt allegedly fired several shots from a car outside Banana Joe's bar at about 2:15 a.m. Police said that one of the shots Platt fired struck Patrick Moore, 29, of Pittsburgh, in the head. Moore died about two hours later at Allegheny General Hospital.

The officers were in city police uniforms, but had official clearance to work a non-police detail as private security guards at the bar in the Strip District, a warehouse district with bars and nightclubs along the Allegheny River that draw a racially mixed clientele.

Michele Papakie, city police spokeswoman, said that the officers "did everything by the book." The officers fired at Platt only after he kept firing when police told him to drop his gun, she said.

"It's unfortunate, it's tragic, but there were crowds of people to protect, and they did exactly what they needed to do," Papakie said.

Witness Jim Bolden praised the police response.

"They acted quick. I don't see how else they could have acted," Bolden said.

Moore was at the bar with co-workers at a suburban pizzeria he managed. Papakie said that police have ruled out a coworker's claim that Moore was shot trying to disarm Platt.

"Absolutely not. He was just going to his car and in the wrong place at the wrong time," Papakie said.

Police were investigating whether an argument between a black man whose car Platt was riding in and a white pedestrian may have led to the shooting. The motorist, Eric Gooden, 27, of Pittsburgh, was questioned and released by police.

After that altercation, Platt, who is black, fired at a pedestrian and missed and then fired several more shots, one of which hit Moore, police said. Moore was not connected to the argument between Platt and the white pedestrian.

Gooden told police that he was trying to leave the scene when Platt began firing.

Police have asked the Allegheny County District Attorney to review Gooden's actions, but felt there wasn't evidence to charge him with a crime, Papakie said. The coroner's office said that an inquest into the shootings is planned but not scheduled.

The Fraternal Order of Police issued a statement defending the shooting of Platt.

"The two officers had no choice but to use deadly force to protect innocent citizens during the shooting. It's just unfortunate that such force is set in motion because of violent criminal actions," said FOP spokesman Gene Gratton Jr.

Previous Stories:

• July 31, 2000: Police: Strip Shooting Isn't Typical
• July 31, 2000: Police: Racial Argument Preceded Shooting
• July 29, 2000: Shooting In Strip Leaves Two Dead