1 Woman Injured, 1 In Custody Following Rankin Shooting
RANKIN (KDKA) – A woman has been arrested for allegedly shooting another woman during an argument in Rankin Tuesday morning.
According to police, the incident happened in the Hawkins Village housing plan around 9:30 a.m. when the suspect reportedly went to an apartment there to get some of her belongings.
An argument between the two women escalated and became physical. At that point, police say one pulled out a gun and shot the other in the thigh. The bullet is believed to have struck an artery.
The victim was taken to UPMC Mercy Hospital, where she underwent surgery this afternoon and is now in stable condition.
The suspect, Jaquet Pope-Esposito, 26, of Swissvale, pulled her car over a few blocks away and called 911.
"She did make a call to 911 and subsequently turned herself in to police," said Lt. Thomas Ianachione, of Allegheny County Police.
She told police she shot the woman in self-defense.
KDKA's Brenda Waters: "She said it was self-defense?"
Lt. Ianachione: "She gave a story that would allude to self-defense."
Waters: "Can you tell us about that story?"
Lt. Ianachione: "She admits to the argument; she admits to the shooting at this point."
Waters: "Did the other person have a weapon?"
Lt. Ianachione: "Not to our knowledge. No."
Another adult and several young children were also believed to be inside the home at the time of the shooting. Also, Pope-Esposito's 5-year-old son was in the car when she turned herself in. He was picked up at the Swissvale Police Station by his great-grandparents.
Lt. Ianachione: "We understand there was a newborn baby and a 1-year-old child in the house at the time of the shooting."
Waters: "She had a child with her?"
Lt. Ianachione: "She did. She had a child in her vehicle outside, which she left the scene in."
Police recovered a .22 caliber semi-automatic pistol from the vehicle.
Police say they don't know what the argument was about.
Pope-Esposito is facing charges of aggravated assault and recklessly endangering another person. She is currently being held in the Allegheny County Jail.
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