Crafton Heights Shooting Suspect Still On The Run

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – A man accused of shooting his estranged wife in Crafton Heights is still on the run.

However the Pennsylvania State Police in Butler are following up on some unconfirmed sightings of 49-year-old Robert Amend.

Amend is from the Sheraden section of Pittsburgh. He's accused of shooting his estranged wife, Tina Thornton, several times at an apartment on Woodlow Street around 9 a.m. Saturday.

The criminal complaint says he forced his way in the home and shot Thornton in the side and leg.
She was taken to Allegheny General Hospital and is expected to survive.

Pittsburgh Police have charged Amend with criminal attempted homicide.

Since then, he's been on the run and was last spotted in Oakland Township, which is north of Butler.

Amy Wadas: "Do you believe he's still in this area?"

Pennsylvania State Police Sgt. Jamie Clark: "I don't know for sure. We're going to pursue that and search for him and follow up with any leads that may come in."

A chase began when police spotted Amend in the Chicora area Saturday.

"I was actually out getting the mail around noon and saw them drop the spikes for his tires and kind of started going sideways and almost hit me while I was over there getting the mail," resident Bill Cavanaugh said.

"I was like, 'Oh my God, get out of the way,'" resident Debbie Kepple said. "I just thought I was done. I was going to get killed there."

Amend crashed his car into a nearby trailer park. He hasn't been seen since. Several police agencies including the SWAT team spent the day and night trying to find Amend.

Even a state police helicopter was in the air.

"Our patrols are actually notified to keep an eye out for him. They'll patrol certain areas and just be on alert," Sgt. Clark said.

State police say they'll activate a full search if a confirmed sighting comes up. State police have charged Amend with fleeing and eluding.

If you have any information on the whereabouts of Amend, you're being asked to call 911 or the Pennsylvania State Police barracks in Butler.

Join The Conversation On The KDKA Facebook Page
Stay Up To Date, Follow KDKA On Twitter