2 Dead, 2 Injured In Shaler Shooting
SHALER (KDKA)- Allegheny County Homicide Detectives are looking into a deadly shooting early Thursday morning in Shaler.
According to police, the incident happened around 3 a.m. in the 400-block of Winterset Drive.
A family of four lived inside the home, including a father, mother, 19-year-old daughter and a 21-year-old son.
The father is the suspected shooter and has been identified as, 52-year-old Jim Edwards.
Police say Edwards grabbed two .44-caliber revolvers and attempted to kill his family.
"The children were in the respective rooms and he went room to room, for lack of a better term, and shot at all the people," Allegheny County Police Lt. Andrew Schurman said.
KDKA's Lynne Hayes-Freeland Reports:
His wife, Charlene, survived as did the couple's 21-year-old son, Jim, who is a pharmaceutical student at Duquesne University.
The university's Assistant Vice President for Public Affairs Bridget Fare released this statement this afternoon:
"Words can't accurately express the deep shock and sadness the Duquesne University community feels about this horrific incident. We can't imagine what they are going through. We are praying for James and his mother to make a full recovery and we express our deepest sympathies to their family and friends."
However, 19-year-old Laurin Edwards, who just celebrated her birthday on Wednesday and was about to head back to Saint Francis University, did not survive.
According to the university, the teen was entering her sophomore year and studying physician assistant sciences. She was a member of the Phi Lambda Psi sorority.
University President Fr. Gabriel Zeis, T.O.R. released this statement on Laurin's passing:
"We extend our deepest sympathies to Laurin's mother and brother, James, who were critically injured in this tragic event. We also join our prayers with those of Duquesne University where James is enrolled in the pharmacy program."
Saint Francis University is offering counseling to those who need it. Also, they have let a candle for Laurin and her mother and brother in their Immaculate Conception Chapel on campus.
"Just really great kids. We're just really shook up over this," Linda Behrhorst said.
"It's a tragedy. Having a son and daughter myself, it hits close to home," Joe Pulgini said.
Allegheny County Police were called to take over the investigation. Police are looking into possible disciplinary issues at Jim Edwards' workplace.
According to police, Edwards worked as a electrician and last Friday was "placed on suspension pending further action by his employer."
Some neighbors also said there were harassment problems between Edwards and a few people on the street. While the wife was able to tell police a brief account of what happened, a motive is still under investigation.
"He's obviously the best source of information for that. And without him to tell us, we may never know exactly. We didn't find any manuscripts or anything like that," Lt. Schurman said.
KDKA's Lynne Hayes-Freeland Reports:
Edwards was an employee at the Allegheny County Airport.
Allegheny County Airport Authority President Bradley D. Penrod issued a statement Thursday afternoon:
"James Edwards was employed as an electrician at Pittsburgh International Airport. I wish to convey the sympathy of the Allegheny County Airport Authority organization and board of directors to the relatives and friends of the victims of this horrible tragedy. Our thoughts and prayers are with the wife and son in their recovery from their injuries."
Police said their son, Jim, was playing video games when the shots were fired. They believe he was wearing a headset with an open audio line and that the person he was playing against heard part of the altercation and called 911.
The Allegheny County Medical Examiner's Office is performing autopsies on the the father and daughter. Meanwhile, investigators continue to look for a motive.
Both the mother and son remain in critical condition.
The family's dog was also shot and killed in the incident.
KDKA's Heather Abraham Reports:
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