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3 Pitt Football Players Charged With Assault

OAKLAND (KDKA) - Three members of the Pitt Panthers football team have been charged with assault stemming from an incident in Oakland last month.

According to the criminal complaint, running back Ray Graham, defensive back Lafayette Pitts and wide receiver Devin Street are all facing charges of assault and conspiracy in connection with an alleged incident on Oct. 21.

News broke over the Oakland Campus regarding these charges against the three star players. However, opinions vary on what punishment should be handed out by the school, if any.

This weekend, the Pitt Panthers will march in to South Bend intent on knocking off Notre Dame.

"I feel like Pitt can do it. I feel like Pitt can pull through. We were supposed to lose to Virginia Tech and Temple, so you never know how the game's going to go," Katy Demko said.

The day before the big game, there's big news and it's not good.

"I wish this hadn't happened," one student said.

The victim, Karl Olsheski, alleges that the three surrounded him while he was walking down Oakland Avenue with two women.

Graham allegedly made some sort of racial comment toward Olsheski before Street punched him in the head.

"They're not above the law by any means," Tim Connell said.

"If they are innocent I feel bad for them getting put through this because I know people who've been falsely accused of stuff," Demko said.

Pitt issued a statement Friday afternoon regarding the charges.

The statement said all three deny any involvement and have not been questioned in connection with the alleged incident in Oakland.

Pitt said all three players will remain active members of the football program.

Regardless of what happens in South Bend this weekend, all three players face a preliminary hearing Jan 9.

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