Charges dismissed against West Mifflin teen in connection with Kennywood shooting
Charges against a teen accused of being involved in a shooting in Kennywood Park in September were dismissed at a preliminary hearing Wednesday afternoon.
Darryl Pirl, 15, of West Mifflin, one of three people injured during the shooting, went before District Judge James Hanley on charges of possession of a firearm by a minor, recklessly endangering another person, firearms not to be carried without a license and two counts of aggravated assault.
According to the judge at Pirl’s hearing, the state did not prove burden in the case, which led to the charges being dismissed, news partners WPXI reported.
Pirl and two others were shot inside the park’s “Lost Kennywood” section by the Music Express ride on Sept. 24.
More on the shooting at Kennywood:
• Kennywood reopens with new security measures in place after triple shooting
• Kennywood to add chaperone policy, security protocols after shooting
• 'It happened so quick,' Kennywood shooting victim says in TV interview
• Kennywood shooting puts spotlight on park security, metal detectors
• Gun found near Kennywood shootings stolen from Ohio vehicle, police say
• Fight between juveniles led to shootings inside Kennywood Park, police say
The park shooting occurred on opening night of Kennywood’s Phantom Fall Fest, a special season on weekends throughout October.
Police said an altercation between two groups of juveniles led to a 39-year-old man and another 15-year-old boy being shot in the leg and Pirl suffering a grazing wound. A gun found near the shooting scene had been reported stolen from a vehicle in Columbus, Ohio, about a year ago, police said.
The Allegheny County Police crime lab determined that gun was one of the weapons used in the shootings.
Police believe a feud between teenagers from Homestead and Duquesne is linked to the Kennywood shooting and 55 other calls police have responded to since June 1.
The amusement park instituted new safety protocols following the September shooting.
Michael DiVittorio is a TribLive reporter covering general news in Western Pennsylvania, with a penchant for festivals and food. He can be reached at mdivittorio@triblive.com.
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