Police: Beltzhoover Shooting Suspect Hurt In Escape Attempt At Police Headquarters
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – The suspect in a Beltzhoover shooting and chase had to be treated at a local hospital and is now facing multiple charges after police say he attempted to escape custody by jumping from the second floor of Pittsburgh Police Headquarters to the first.
Pittsburgh Police say 24-year-old Darren White fell 18.5 feet to the lobby of the first floor of the police station during his escape attempt. He was led away from police headquarters to an ambulance and then taken to the hospital to be treated for injuries from the fall.
According to police, it all started earlier in the day with reports of a shooting in the 90-block of Beltzhoover Avenue around 11:48 a.m.
"I heard eight, nine, 10 shots, saw a silver car come down that alley, turn this way, go down the street," said eyewitness Jim Padjune.
When police arrived at the scene on nearby Aztec Way, they found a 20-year-old male suffering from two gunshot wounds. He was taken to UPMC Mercy Hospital in serious, but stable condition.
Police say White fled the scene in a silver Jeep Patriot.
At 11:52 a.m., police spotted the vehicle driving at a high-rate of speed near the West End Bridge. The suspect hit two civilian vehicles before crashing into a wall at the intersection of 28th Street and Liberty Avenue in the Strip District.
"While police were responding to that scene, someone spotted the vehicle involved traveling over the West End Bridge," said Public Safety spokesperson Emily Schaffer. "Police followed that vehicle and it was driving erratically at high rates of speed."
White then fled the crash scene on foot and was arrested on the 28th Street Bridge. While at that scene, police recovered a gun and shell casings that possibly scattered by the impact of the crashes.
At least one person in the civilian vehicles suffered minor injuries.
"Stopped at a red light, and all of a sudden I feel this impact," said one of the crash victims. "Wasn't hard, it was just enough to shake the car, but he did enough damage that I can't move my car right now."
White will face several charges, which are yet to be finalized.
Stay With KDKA.com For More Details
Join The Conversation On The KDKA Facebook Page
Stay Up To Date, Follow KDKA On Twitter
