Man shot inside Pittsburgh club, suspect charged
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- A man was shot inside Club Pittsburgh in the city's Strip District on Friday morning.
Pittsburgh Police say the shooting happened just around 2:15 a.m. on Friday at the social club located along Penn Avenue.
According to police, when officers arrived at the social club, they found the man had been shot multiple times in the chest and torso. The man was taken to the hospital for surgery and was last listed in critical condition. The victim has not been identified.
Police say a man who is believed to be the suspect in the shooting was taken into custody at the scene. That man was taken to the hospital for evaluation and then taken to the Allegheny County Jail. Pittsburgh Public Safety later identified the suspect as 55-year-old William Samuels. He was charged with attempted homicide and terroristic threats, among other charges.
A gun was recovered from the scene, according to police. Detectives from the bureau's Violent Crime Unit are leading the investigation into the shooting.
Club Pittsburgh has been open since 2001, serving the LGBTQ community.
The social club issued a statement on its Facebook page saying:
"The management and team at Club Pittsburgh are deeply saddened by the tragic incident that occurred early this morning. Our foremost priority has always been to provide a safe and welcoming environment for our community, and it is heartbreaking that an act of gun violence has disrupted this space. Law enforcement has informed us that the suspect may have been experiencing "medical distress." We are actively cooperating with the investigation to better understand what transpired. In the meantime, we are committed to thoroughly reevaluating our safety, security, and admission protocols to ensure the well-being of everyone who enters our doors. Our thoughts are with the victim as they recover and we extend our sincerest gratitude to our patrons and the greater community for their continued support and understanding as we navigate this challenging time together. Please know we are dedicated to reinforcing Club Pittsburgh as a space where all feel safe and valued."
A former security guard from Club Pittsburgh told KDKA's Lauren Linder that it doesn't search for weapons and said they were surprised because they've never seen things get out of hand there.
New details released in Club Pittsburgh shooting
According to the criminal complaint, Samuels told police that he is homeless and had rented a room at the social club for him and his girlfriend because of the weather.
When he thought he heard his girlfriend calling for help in another room, Samuels told police he grabbed his gun. Police say he tried to break into a room, shot a man and pointed his gun at six other people before officers arrived and arrested him.
Police say the shooting happened on the fourth floor of the club. The court documents say Samuels snuck the gun in under a heavy coat.
Police said the victim is intubated and will need more surgeries to survive.
LGBTQ+ community rallies around Club Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh's LGBTQ+ community is standing in solidarity with Club Pittsburgh and tightening security after Friday's shooting.
Bars like the Blue Moon on Butler in Lawrenceville are considered safe spaces for the LGBTQ + community. But what happened on Friday morning was anything but.
"I was overwhelmed," said Billy Sharp, Blue Moon on Butler's assistant manager. "It is close to home."
Sharp has been to Club Pittsburgh.
"We're all in shock right now," Sharp said. "I think this is devastating to us all."
Messages of support are appearing across social media, including on Blue Moon on Butler's Facebook page.
"I don't think we're worried," Sharp said. "I just think we're alert to everything going around. I think we're cautious."
He says the bar will be checking the bags of anyone who enters.
"We have security no matter what," Sharp said. "We have a door person here every weekend, every week during the week. That's something that we all have to look at, and all of us do eventually."
P*Town Bar in Oakland also said on Facebook it will be increasing security measures.
