Morning Roundup: Woman fatally shot in Pittsburgh

Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Friday, Sept. 8:

25-year-old Pittsburgh woman killed after shooting

A woman died after being found shot in Pittsburgh’s Brighton Heights on Thursday night, police said.

The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office identified her as Danasia Lighty, 25, of Pittsburgh.

Pittsburgh police responded to a ShotSpotter alert in the area of Fleming and Falck avenues at 11 p.m. Police said there were around 12 gunshots heard in the area, said Tribune-Review news partner WTAE-TV.

Lighty was found inside a vehicle suffering from multiple gunshot wounds, said police.

Pittsburgh firefighters rendered initial aid to Lighty until medics arrived, who took her to the hospital.

Lighty died in the hospital at 11:30 p.m., according to the medical examiner’s office.

Police said an initial investigation showed someone approached the woman’s vehicle on foot and fired inside before leaving the area.

Violent Crime Unit detectives are continuing the investigation.

Woman stabbed in neck in Marshall-Shadeland

A woman who was stabbed Thursday night in Pittsburgh’s Marshall-Shadeland walked to seek help at a nearby home, said police.

Pittsburgh police responded to the 1100 block of Hall Street around 11:45 p.m. and located a woman with multiple stab wounds in the neck.

The woman was taken to the hospital in critical condition.

No arrests were made as of Friday morning.

Butler County daycare worker accused of abusing young children

A woman who works at a Butler County daycare center is accused of assaulting and endangering children.

Taylor Elisabeth Titley, 29, of Butler, has been charged with multiple felonies, including aggravated assault of a child under 6 years old and endangering the welfare of children.

The alleged abuse occurred at Sheryl Buffington’s Daycare and Preschool Palace in Center Township, according to a criminal complaint obtained by Tribune-Review news partner WTAE. Titley worked in the infant room at the daycare, according to the complaint.

Police said they spoke to several current and former employees who alleged they saw Titley grab and throw children at the daycare. A 6-month-old boy had been taken to a hospital after sustaining a fracture to his right arm in June, police said.

The alleged abuse happened between June 2021 and June of this year, according to police. Five children ages ranging from 6 months to 2 years were listed in the complaint.

Kara Kennedy, a mother who said her son was abused at the center, told WTAE that she believed her 7-month-old son received carpet burns after being thrown on the ground.

“It’s quite literally a mother’s or parent’s worst nightmare,” Kennedy said. “You never wish that upon anybody or anybody’s child. I don’t care how bad of a person you are, the children don’t know. They can’t speak for themselves.”

The daycare owner, Sheryl Buffington, said she was “deeply troubled” by the allegations.

“We have fully cooperated in this investigation since it began and will continue to do so,” Buffington told WTAE. “All proper protocols have been followed and the safety of the children in our care remains our top priority.”