Police Searching For Suspects After Shots Fired Outside Of Waterworks Walmart
By: KDKA-TV's Lindsay Ward and Jessica Guay
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - Police are looking for suspects after shots were fired outside of the Waterworks Walmart.
Tuesday evening, a frightening scene took place outside of the Walmart at the Waterworks Mall near Aspinwall. It's the middle of the holiday season, which means it's a busy time for stores where many families are out shopping.
Shots were fired and police are searching for the four suspects involved. It happened just before 5:30 p.m.
According to Pittsburgh Public Safety, the incident occurred outside the store where a vehicle with a man in the back seat was hit by numerous gunshots. Police say they were waiting for a relative who was in the store. Luckily, the man did not get hit, but the vehicle sustained damage.
"There was one individual sitting in the back seat of the vehicle, and how he escaped is what I'd consider a miracle," said Public Safety Director, Wendell Hissrich.
The SWAT team was eventually called in and they searched the store inside and out, from the roof to the ground.
Police believe the shots were fired because of a domestic situation and that the person inside the vehicle did not know any of the suspects.
Around 100 customers were inside Walmart at the time, along with dozens of employees. We spoke to some people who were there.
"We just heard bang, bang, get out. Again, I thought it was a fistfight you start to put it together as you are running out of there," said Chuck Foster.
No one was seriously hurt in the incident. Police say one woman who was running out of the store was checked out. An employee with the company that owns the shopping center said there are surveillance cameras at Walmart, but they do not know if any of the cameras captured the incident.
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Shoppers who returned to the store on Wednesday said they felt safe enough to come back.
"I feel fine, I just go do my normal thing and make sure I'm looking around," said George Davison.
Davison was grabbing some lunch in the plaza. He said the shots fired incident is a reminder to be vigilant, not just there, but everywhere.
"Today, we do have to prepare a little better before we go out in public, unfortunately," Davison said. "I have kids and I've actually talked with them. 'Hey, you need to be more aware right now, use your observation skills when you hop out of a car, look around.'"
Bryce Jackson was having a normal day at work at Top Hat Tuxedo on Tuesday until police cars flew by the store.
"Definitely felt uneasy because I was planning to go over to Walmart. I needed to make Christmas cookies and I'm glad I didn't go. So I just felt blessed," said Jackson.
While he was sad to see this happen, he wants people to keep enjoying the Waterworks stores and restaurants.
"I know this is kind of our bread-and-butter season right now. We're booking a lot of weddings, a lot of people are coming in and out of our shop, so I hope people still feel safe, nothing bad happened. I thought the police response yesterday was impressive, how fast they got here and set up the perimeter," Davison said.
