Cops responding to Shotspotter alert find gas line ruptured by gunfire; homes evacuated
Pittsburgh police officers responding to a Shotspotter alert overnight in the city’s Marshall-Shadeland neighborhood didn’t catch any suspects.
But they may have prevented a tragedy.
Officers from the Zone 1 station who responded to the automated gunfire detection alert in the 3000 block of Shadeland Avenue shortly after midnight found evidence that dozens of gunshots had been fired — along with a strong odor of natural gas, according to a police bureau spokesman.
Police noticed that a gas meter on a nearby home had been hit by a bullet and was leaking. A number of homes in the area also were hit by the barrage of gunfire.
Homes in the vicinity were evacuated and firefighters were dispatched to shut off the line.
A utility crew was called in to repair the damage and residents were allowed to return to their homes.
No injuries were reported.
The shooting is under investigation.
Tony LaRussa is a TribLive reporter. A Pittsburgh native, he covers crime and courts in the Alle-Kiski Valley. He can be reached at tlarussa@triblive.com.
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