Morning Roundup: High wind watch issued for Saturday
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Friday, March 31, 2023:
High wind watch
The National Weather Service has issued a high wind watch for parts of Western Pennsylvania from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday.
The watch is in effect for the ridges until 2 a.m. Sunday.
According to the NWS, there will be sustained winds of 25 to 35 mph, with gusts to 60 mph.
Damaging winds could blow down trees and power lines, and widespread power outages are possible. Travel could be difficult, especially for high-profile vehicles, according to the watch.
There also is a chance for severe thunderstorms in the late afternoon and early evening. They could include damaging wind, large hail and isolated tornadoes.
The risks on Saturday will be two fold. First, widespread high wind event. These winds will be non-thunderstorm related and gusts up to 60 mph are possible. Second, possible severe thunderstorms. Keep up to data on the latest forecasts and any changes to the headlines. pic.twitter.com/EdPh3LDoxe
— NWS Pittsburgh (@NWSPittsburgh) March 31, 2023
Suspect arrested in Perry South shooting
A man from Pittsburgh’s Hazelwood neighborhood is in the Allegheny County Jail, accused of fatally shooting a man in the city’s Perry South neighborhood in February.
Aaron Smith, 29, was arraigned Thursday morning, according to court records. Police have accused him of killing Rasul Aquil Jr., 23, on Feb. 5.
Smith was arrested without incident Wednesday in Altoona by Pittsburgh’s Fugitive Apprehension Unit with the help of Altoona police.
Aquil was found unresponsive inside a vehicle in the 600 block of Chautauqua Street with a gunshot wound to the head. He died Feb. 7 at Allegheny General Hospital, according to police.
An autopsy found Aquil had been shot four times, including three to the head.
Smith is charged with criminal homicide, prohibited possession of a firearm and carrying a firearm without a license.
At his arraignment, Smith was denied bail because he is a danger to the community, according to court records. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on April 14.
1 hurt in Shaler crash
One person was hurt in a crash in Shaler late Thursday.
The crash involving a car and an SUV happened about 11:30 p.m. on Route 8 at Duquesne Street, according to Tribune-Review news partner WPXI.
The road was closed until about 12:45 a.m. Friday while the scene was cleared.
The condition of the person taken to a hospital was not released. Shaler police were investigating.
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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