Graphic video of Robinson motel manager's killing spurs DA to seek gag order

Graphic video posted on social media of the fatal shooting last week of a Robinson motel manager has prompted the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office to seek a broad gag order in the case against the accused killer.

Police charged Stanley Eugene West with killing Rakesh “Rocky” Bhagavan and wounding a woman at the motel and a Pittsburgh police detective before he was arrested.

The DA’s office said surveillance video of Bhagavan being shot in the head at point-blank range last Friday has been circulating on Instagram and “traditional media outlets,” according to a motion filed Wednesday in Allegheny County Common Pleas Court.

It has been “liked” more than 18,000 times and shared nearly 27,000 times on Instagram and “traditional media outlets,” according to a motion filed Wednesday in Allegheny County Common Pleas Court, the motion said.

Prosecutors argue that, if “widespread dissemination” of the video continues, it could hurt West’s right to a fair and impartial trial.

The DA’s office wants Judge Edward J. Borkowski to block ongoing dissemination of the video and other evidence in the case and bar the parties to the case from making public statements that could be prejudicial.

West is charged with homicide, attempted homicide and recklessly endangering another person.

Police say West encountered Bhagavan, 51, Friday afternoon outside the motel in the 4200 block of Steubenville Pike.

West, who was staying at the motel, shot and critically wounded a female companion, which drew Bhagavan outside, authorities said.

Video shows a man, later identified by police as West, walking toward Bhagavan.

“‘Are you all right, bud?’” Bhagavan asked, according to a criminal complaint.

West, walking directly up to Bhagavan, raised a gun and shot the manager in the head, according to authorities and the video.

Bhagavan died at the scene.

As part of the investigation, officers recovered video from a security system at the scene.

“The origin of the dissemination of this video is currently unknown,” the motion said.

After West shot Bhagavan, police said, he left the motel in a U-haul van.

Police tracked the van using license plate reading cameras, and Pittsburgh detectives spotted it about 2:30 p.m. in the 2200 block of Wilner Drive in East Hills.

When West got out of the van, police said, he began shooting, hitting one detective in the leg.

Officers returned fire, striking West. He was taken to the hospital in critical condition.

Court records do not yet list an attorney for West.