Body Found In Basement After Dangerous Situation Unfolds In Point Breeze
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POINT BREEZE (KDKA) -- A call to check on someone turned into a dangerous situation for first responders in Point Breeze on Monday when something was thrown at them, then a fire broke out, followed by the discovery of a body.
There was smoke, then flames, and police and firefighters swarmed the area. And, now, there are still so many questions about what happened inside the apartment building in the 100 block of Penfield Place.
Paramedics transported one man to the hospital, and then investigators discovered a man's body inside.
The Allegheny County Medical Examiner's Office is identifying the man as 71-year-old Steven Pariser, who is listed in county records as the owner of the rowhouse where the fire broke out.
Authorities are yet not commenting on how Pariser died.
Witness Tyler Lamb captured cell phone video of smoke pouring from the upstairs windows.
"The fire department was waiting around," he said. "There were police officers with guns drawn who went around the back of the building."
Later, another witness, Derek Rochna, captured more cell phone video of the fire. One of the clips shows a man climbing out a smoke-filled window as first responders yelled for him to come out. Witnesses say that man was taken away.
"Upon arrival, one person ended up having to be transported to the hospital," said Alicia George, Pittsburgh's assistant public information officer. "Later on, a body was discovered and they are now trying to investigate and figure out exactly what happened here."
Christine McInnas knows the person who lives in that unit. She's worried, too.
"I went out to walk my dog around 3 o'clock, and I stopped because the house across the street was on fire, and then all of this sort of unraveled," McInnas. "I don't know what happened, but it's frightening."
"It's just a little shocking," said neighbor Andy Hoot. "We tried to come home several hours ago, but we were blocked off, so it's not something you experience every day in your neighborhood."
Investigators are also not yet saying if there are any pending criminal charges in the bizarre case.