Police: Dispute Over Parking Spot Leads To Gunfire, Arrest During First Night Celebration
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – Dozens of Pittsburgh Police officers responded to a downtown parking garage on New Year's Eve for a parking dispute that turned violent when a man pulled out a gun after a brief confrontation.
This one could have been a lot worse, according to police on the scene and the two victims in the incident. No one was hurt, and quick action by police, who were all over downtown for First Night, resolved the incident in a hurry.
The incident happened about 10:30 Thursday night. A lot of people were headed downtown and a lot of them were looking for parking.
At least one man was a bit testy as he tried to get a parking spot in a garage at 9th Street and Penn Avenue. David Hall is in custody and is charged with aggravated assault, reckless endangerment and illegally discharging a firearm.
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According to the criminal complaint, police nearby heard the commotion, stating, "Immediately following the gunshot, I heard screaming and yelling."
The suspect, who had a gun and was immediately handcuffed, told police he was trying to park his car in the lot when "two females pulled up to his vehicle and started yelling obscenities." The suspect told police he reached for a gun in his waistband and it "accidentally discharged."
Witnesses and surveillance video confirm the suspect "fired one shot in the direction of the two females, striking the cement near their feet." No one was injured.
"There was a lot larger commitment than you saw in uniform," Mayor Bill Peduto said. "There were a lot of undercover officers that were out there."
Police were on the scene within seconds when they heard the shots and screams. The mayor convinced it made a difference last night and will carry over into big events in the future.
"The officers that people saw was only part of the presence," Mayor Peduto said. "Obviously, when you have boots on the ground, they're able to respond a lot quicker."
The suspect remains in jail Friday evening. In the meantime, the mayor and the police department want people to know that this was an isolated incident during the First Night festivities.
