Oakmont businesses rattled by pizza shop robbery attempt that left employee critically injured

Business owners and store clerks in Oakmont are feeling jittery in the wake of Sunday’s attempted armed robbery of a pizza shop during which an employee was critically wounded by gunfire.

The shooting happened shortly before 4 p.m. at the Fox’s Pizza in the 300 block of Allegheny River Boulevard, according to authorities.

A man walked into the shop with a gun and got into a struggle with an employee before shooting the worker multiple times. The gunman then ran toward California Avenue, according to Allegheny County homicide detectives.

No arrests have been made. The suspect is described as a Black man about 5-foot-4 to 5-foot-6 with a slim build. He was wearing black pants, a black ski mask and a red Robert Morris University hooded sweatshirt. Anyone with information is asked to call county police at 1-833-255-8477.

“I was just coming into work when I saw the ambulance heading away from the pizza shop up the street and there were police cars outside,” said Samantha Blackwell, 29, of Verona, who works as an assistant manager at Vocelli Pizza in the Allegheny Plaza shopping center along Allegheny Avenue in Oakmont.

“Everybody I spoke to had the same reaction: A shooting in Oakmont? Really? But it does make you stop and think. It could’ve been us,” she said.

While the chance of getting robbed “is always in the back of your mind” when you work in a business that deals with the public, when it happens so close “it’s just shocking,” Blackwell said.

Police did not release the identity of the victim and did not say whether the gunman made away with any cash.

A GoFundMe.com page set has been set up to help cover the victim’s medical expenses.

The request for financial assistance said the man was struck by gunfire in both thighs, the knee, abdomen and chest; and that he suffered two fractured femurs and damage to his stomach, spleen and liver. The posting said a bullet barely missed striking his heart.

So far, nearly $25,000 toward a $30,000 goal has been donated.

Justin Lin, 34, who owns the China House restaurant across the street from Fox’s, said he can only recall one other incident from several years ago in which an armed robber hit a local sandwich shop.

“The guy showed a knife, but nobody got hurt,” said Lin, who took over the business his parents started 15 years ago. “It’s a little scary to hear that somebody got shot. We live in Oakmont, and it’s such a safe town. So this makes us worry. I really hope they catch the guy soon.”

According to annual crime statistics compiled by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, there were 37 violent crimes reported to police in Oakmont between 2016 and 2019. During that period, there were two homicides and two robberies, the FBI reported.

“This type of crime is very unusual for Oakmont,” said Mayor Sophia Facaros. “As a resident for many years, I can’t recall this type of crime happening.”

The mayor said she and the police chief plan to meet with local businesses to hear their concerns about safety in the commercial district.

The mayor said Oakmont residents are diligent about addressing crime in the community.

“The citizens of Oakmont are known to watch out for each other, and citizen safety has always been a top priority for the police and fire departments,” Facaros said.

Lin and Blackwell said their businesses try to guard against robbery by only keeping small amounts of money in the register. They also limited the amount of cash drivers carry while making deliveries.

“It’s a surprise that somebody would use a gun to rob a pizza shop,” Lin said. “I don’t think they would have had a lot of cash in the register. Almost everybody is paying with credit cards now because of the pandemic.”