Chase Bank ATM firebombed along McKnight Road in Ross
Within hours of a shootout late Tuesday night at Ross Park Mall, an ATM was firebombed along McKnight Road, according to township police.
A nearby witness reported the firebombing shortly after midnight, Ross Deputy Chief Brian Kohlhelpp said. The drive-thru ATM is located under a canopy in the parking lot outside a Chase Bank at McKnight and Siebert roads.
That was about four hours after at least one person was hurt in an exchange of gunfire in the Ross Park Mall parking lot in the area of Dick’s Sporting Goods and Nordstrom.
The firebombing and shooting are not believed to be related, Kohlhepp said.
The Allegheny County Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the incident as an arson, spokeswoman Kasey Reigner said.
The firebombing was captured on township surveillance cameras. The suspect is a white male with a bald or shaved head and a spider web tattoo on his left elbow. He was wearing a dark gray T-shirt with white printing on the back, gray camo cargo shorts and tan boots. He was wearing a necklace that may have had a dogtag or similar item attached to it.
“We have the individual walking up to the ATM with a gas can and pouring gas all over the ATM and surrounding area and setting it on fire,” Kohlhepp said.
Firefighters quickly extinguished the fire.
Police had leads on a suspect, but Kohlhepp said they were not sure of the motive, such as whether it had something to do with that particular bank or the banking industry in general.
Because of how significant and fast the fire was, Kohlhepp said it’s possible the person who started the fire could have been injured. No one else was in the immediate area.
Damage to the ATM was not significant. Kohlhepp said it had marks on it from being burned, but in the aftermath was still functional. It was taped off for investigation during the day on Wednesday.
“It does not appear that it was an attempt to get cash from the ATM,” Kohlhepp said. “It appears it was just an act of vandalism.”
Anyone able to identify the suspect is asked to call Ross police at 412-931-9070.
Brian C. Rittmeyer, a Pittsburgh native and graduate of Penn State University's Schreyer Honors College, has been with the Trib since December 2000. He can be reached at brittmeyer@triblive.com.
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