Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Friday, Dec. 19:
Police arrest 2 suspects over gun, drugs
Pittsburgh police say they arrested two men and confiscated a gun and drugs Thursday after reports that one of the men brandished a gun at a maintenance worker Downtown on Penn Avenue.
Investigators said one of the suspects was taken into custody in a convenience store. After a brief foot chase, the second suspect was apprehended at the intersection of Sixth Avenue and McCrea Way.
The second man had a rifle and significant amount of drugs, including heroin, police said.
At 8:45 am, Officers responded to the 600 block of Penn Ave for reports of a man brandishing a rifle at a worker.
The adult male actors are in custody and are facing charges. The second actor was found to be in possession of a rifle and drugs.
More info: https://t.co/sRAu8kpmzE pic.twitter.com/4dIo2VhFda
— Pittsburgh Public Safety (@PghPublicSafety) December 18, 2025
The pair are facing charges. Their identities weren’t released by police.
Pet owners warned of scammers targeting missing animals
Humane Animal Rescue of Pittsburgh is warning pet owners searching for their missing animal of a scam using the group’s information.
Scammers are using HARP’s phone number to claim a missing pet was found and payment is needed immediately for emergency care, according to the agency.
“We will never demand payment over the phone, threaten harm or pressure urgent decisions,” HARP said in a post on social media.
Officials urged owners of missing pets who receive such a phone call to contact HARP directly at 412-345-7300.
Parkway East delays expected for paving
A right lane of the Parkway East outbound will be closed Saturday in Edgewood and Pittsburgh for paving, according to PennDOT.
The lane will be closed from 2 a.m. to 4 p.m. between the Squirrel Hill Tunnel and the Edgewood/Swissvale exit.
The work is part of the $95 million project to replace the Commercial Street Bridge. Beams for the bridge were delivered this week.
Man shot and killed in Beaver County
A man in his mid-20s died Friday in a fatal shooting in Beaver County.
The shooting was reported on New York Avenue in Rochester, police officials told TribLive news partner WTAE. Authorities did not provide any information on a suspect, but called the shooting an isolated incident.
Police asked anyone with information to contact them at 724-775-1100.
Police say UPMC surgeon obtained Oxycodone for fiancee
A Venango County doctor was arrested Thursday on police accusations that he illegally prescribed and picked up Oxycodone to give to his then-fiancee.
State attorney general agents filed drug, identity theft and related charges against Justin Adibi, 35, of Oil City. Authorities said Adibi was working as a surgeon in late September 2024 when he used patient files to send Oxycodone prescriptions to pharmacies where he then picked up the medication. He was working as a surgeon at two UPMC hospitals in Venango County at the time.
UPMC cooperated with the investigation, police said. Adibi was terminated in October 2024, according to a consent agreement and order that indicated he voluntarily surrendered his license to practice medicine.
Adibi’s license in Pennsylvania was issued in July 2024. He is free on $50,000 unsecured bail.
