2 young women shot in Homewood; Pittsburgh police investigating

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — Two young women were rushed to the hospital after a shooting Thursday morning in Homewood.

Police converged on the neighborhood around 11:20 a.m. and set up a perimeter at Brushton Avenue and Stranahan Street.

A caregiver for a neighbor told officers that she heard at least four to six gunshots, police said. One of the bullets hit a window in the neighbor's home, but no one was hit inside. The caregiver said she saw one victim on the ground and the other one standing nearby.  

"They were shot in the back," the caretaker said. "I asked her who was on the ground cause I just saw a body and she said her cousin." 

"It's horrifying," neighborhood leader Lorna Doswell-Gaines said.  

The 18-year-old victims were taken to the hospital by paramedics, investigators said. One of the young women has critical injuries and the other is in stable condition. They were allegedly shot in the back after a fight. 

Police later said Temani Lewis, 20, was charged with aggravated assault, criminal attempt homicide, firearms not to be carried without a license and recklessly endangering another person.

"The violence is outrageous, and the scope is bigger than we think," Doswell-Gaines said.  

Doswell-Gaines is simply tired of these headlines. She said it's become a constant to see pain and tragedy outside their doors.  

"I'm begging you, this is not a joke. One day you're going to look down on yours and know how these mothers feel," she said.

She is calling on police to patrol the area and wants city leaders to give more programs to neighborhoods to give young people a place to go.  

Pittsburgh police are investigating.

In:
• Shooting
• Homewood
• Pittsburgh