Suspect In Custody Following Series Of Attempted Carjackings In East Liberty
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - A 19-year-old suspect is in custody following a series of attempted carjackings in East Liberty.
According to Pittsburgh Police, there were three different carjacking incidents on Tuesday involving Ajanay Watson around 2:45 p.m.
Watson was apprehended in Penn Hills on Graham Boulevard.
"I have heard of some teenagers getting into a car if there are some sunglasses out every three months or something. Very, very infrequent. When I heard there was a series of attempted carjackings, I was very surprised," nearby neighbor Yelena Nelson said.
The incident started when Watson attempted to carjack an off-duty Allegheny County sheriff deputy, who took out her gun and persued the suspect.
An off-duty female Pittsburgh police officer who saw the attempted carjacking also chased the suspect.
She successfully carjacking a third car of a parent waiting outside of the Barack Obama Academy of International Studies, Pittsburgh Public School said. The suspect stole the car after holding the parent at gunpoint.
WATCH: KDKA's Chris Hoffman reports live from East Liberty.
Ajanay Watson then led police on a vehicle chase down Frankstown Avenue toward Penn Hills.
"The suspect drove at a high rate of speed in a white Subaru, outbound on Frankstown Road all the way to Penn Hills, turned onto Graham, where the vehicle crashed," Pittsburgh Police Public Information Officer Chris Togneri said.
A gun was recovered from the vehicle at the crash site on the 2800 block of Graham Boulevard around 3 p.m.
"We don't have a whole lot of carjackings in the city to begin with, but to have attempted to carjack an off-duty deputy and then an off-duty city police officer is unusual," Togneri said.
Watson is facing numerous charges, including Robbery of a motor vehicle, 2 counts of attempted robbery of a motor vehicle, receiving stolen property, theft by unlawful taking, carrying a fire without a license, simple assault, fleeing or attempting to elude police, and driving without a license.
Officials say there were no injuries.
Stay with KDKA.com for the latest on this developing story.
