Woman dead, man in critical condition after shooting at Blawnox manufacturing business
BLAWNOX, Pa. (KDKA) -- A man is facing charges after police said he shot and killed the mother of his children and injured her new boyfriend at a manufacturing business in Blawnox where they all worked.
Police and EMS personnel were called to the area surrounding Tri-Arc Manufacturing along Fountain Street just before 6:30 a.m. for multiple reports of an active shooter inside a business.
When officers from multiple departments responded to the scene, they said they found 42-year-old Sean Black of Allegheny Township inside the building and took him into custody without incident. Through interviews, police said they learned Black was an employee at Tri-Arc.
Officers also found two victims inside the building, a man and a woman. The woman, later identified by the medical examiner as 30-year-old Courtney Smith, was pronounced dead at the scene, while the man was taken to an area hospital in critical condition.
According to the criminal complaint, a witness told police Black and Smith had been together for several years and had three children together. They had recently separated, and Smith was dating the man who was shot, detectives said.
The witness told police they saw Black and Smith wrestling and watched Black shoot Smith multiple times in the chest. Black then shot multiple times at the other victim, the criminal complaint said.
"There was many employees there, I couldn't tell you exactly how many, but the place is big, the place was fully employed at the time," said Victor Joseph, the assistant superintendent for Allegheny County police.
"Officers train for that every day and from all accounts, these officers relied on their training. They went to the gunfire, they didn't hesitate. Initially, there were only two officers. When they were told there was gunfire active inside the building, they went to it, were able to take the actor into custody," Joseph added.
County police say no officers fired their weapons during this situation.
"We are lucky there were't more injuries or more casualties," Joseph said.
While processing the scene, detectives found two firearms, according to the criminal complaint.
Nearby streets were temporarily blocked too, as Blawnox residents and police took in what happened.
"It's just a peaceful neighborhood. I always call it the center of little houses," said Blawnox resident, Jim Ellrod. "It's highly unusual, really any place in Pittsburgh."
"This is definitely not common for our area," Blawnox Police Chief Patrick Goodman said. "[Blawnox officers] handled themselves well. We'll go forward and make sure everybody's OK and not affected by this adversely."
County police have stressed that the scene is secure and that there is no threat to the public.
Jeff Eller, a spokesperson for Tri-Arc, confirmed the shooting at the facility and said the company was working with law enforcement.
Black is charged with homicide, attempted homicide, aggravated assault and recklessly endangering another person.
