Morning Roundup: FBI, police investigate hoax threat at Tree of Life
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Wednesday, July 3:
FBI, police investigate hoax threat to Tree of Life synagogue
Authorities are investigating a hoax threat made against the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh’s Squirrel Hill neighborhood, according to WTAE.
Pittsburgh police told WTAE that an unspecified threat was made to the synagogue, which was determined to be a hoax.
It’s unclear when the threat was made.
Police said the hoax was similar to threats to synagogues across the country.
Mother, infant reported missing by Pittsburgh police
Pittsburgh police are looking for a missing mother and her baby boy.
Sheilyn Tejax Morales, 16, and her 6-month-old son, Edgar Marques Tejax, were last seen in Pittsburgh’s Beechview neighborhood at 2 p.m. Monday, said police spokeswoman Cara Cruz.
Sheilyn is 4-foot-7, has brown eyes and dyed brown hair, Cruz said. She was last wearing a blue jacket, blue jeans and black and white sneakers.
Edgar has brown eyes and hair and was last wearing a red onesie, Cruz said.
Cruz said they may be in the Beechview or Brookline area.
Those with information on their location are encouraged to call 412-323-7141 or 9-1-1.
Resident and officer injured in Mt. Lebanon apartment fire
A Tuesday fire at an apartment building along Roselawn Avenue in Mt. Lebanon sent two people to the hospital.
Crews were dispatched to the apartment building at around 1:15 p.m.
The building was a four-story, 16-unit structure and the fire was contained to the apartment of origin, the Mt. Lebanon Fire Department said.
A resident and a police officer were taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation, the department said.
6th tornado confirmed during late June storms
The National Weather Service confirmed Tuesday a sixth tornado that touched down in southwestern Pennsylvania during last week’s storms.
Classified as an EF-1, the sixth tornado touched down June 26 near the Mellon Plan neighborhood in Monroeville, sweeping through parts of Wall, Pitcairn and south Monroeville. Damage included trees snapped or uprooted, fences broken and siding removed from homes, NWS said. Trees fell into power lines, causing poles to snap.
The tornado briefly retreated north before dissipating, NWS said.
Other confirmed tornados from last week’s storms were reported near Route 22 near the Beaver Run Road area, Oakdale, the Trafford and Harrison City area, Blairsville, and Mount Morris in Greene County.
There have been 29 tornadoes in the NWS Pittsburgh area this year, the agency said. The previous record at this time was 27 tornadoes in 2021.
Kellen Stepler is a TribLive reporter covering the Allegheny Valley and Burrell school districts and surrounding areas. He joined the Trib in April 2023. He can be reached at kstepler@triblive.com.
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