Police: 2 Dead, 7 Injured in Pittsburgh Psychiatric Clinic Shooting
- Posted on March 8, 2012 at 4:34pm by
Tiffany Gabbay
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PITTSBURGH (The Blaze/AP) – A gunman who opened fire after entering the lobby of a psychiatric hospital at the University of Pittsburgh on Thursday was armed with two semi-automatic handguns during a shooting that left two people, including the gunman, dead and several others wounded, the mayor said.
Mayor Luke Ravenstahl said the man exchanged gunfire with police and was shot dead Thursday but not before one other person was killed and seven others were hurt, apparently by his gunfire. One injured person wasn’t hurt by gunfire.
The mayor stopped short of confirming the gunman was fatally shot by a University of Pittsburgh police officer. But he confirmed “police acted admirably and did engage in gunfire.”
One of the injured was a police officer who Ravenstahl says was grazed by a bullet. Officials aren’t saying if the officer shot the gunman.
Gregory Brant said he was in a waiting room on the first floor of the clinic building when pandemonium broke out.
“We heard a bunch of yelling, some shooting, people yelling, `Hide! Hide!” he said. “Everyone’s yelling, `Stay down!’”
Brant, 53, and six other people, including a young girl and her parents, barricaded themselves inside the waiting room. But he said they did not feel safe because there were doors with windows along adjacent walls.
“The way the room was arranged, if he (the gunman) had gone to either window and would have seen us in there, he could have done whatever he wanted,” Brant said.
The group crouched in a corner, hoping the gunman wouldn’t see them as he went past, Brant said. The men in the group decided on the spot that if the gunman entered the room, they would rush him.
“We were kind of sitting ducks,” Brant said. “Luckily, he didn’t see us in there, and we didn’t make eye contact with him.”
Brant estimated the ordeal lasted 15 or 20 minutes.
Neighboring buildings were placed on lockdown for hours, police said.
Wood said media reports about a possible second gunman and a hostage situation at the clinic or at UPMC Presbyterian hospital were unfounded.
A SWAT team was on the scene shortly after the shooting. A street was blocked off, and the area thronged with police. Most students are on spring break, though offices and buildings have been open.
The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center said it had received some patients from the shooting. It said two patients were in intensive care, two were released and three were being admitted. All were expected to survive.
The clinic, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, is located in the city’s Oakland neighborhood, a couple of miles east of downtown, and is affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and one of several affiliated hospitals adjacent to the university campus. Other schools are nearby, including Carnegie Mellon, Carlow and Chatham universities.
Pete Finelli, who lives two blocks from the clinic and once worked there as a student nursing assistant, said security guards are always at the part of the building where it the shooting is believed to have occurred, on the ground floor.
Patient rooms are on the upper floors, he said, but anyone on the first floor would have to be someone being either admitted or discharged.
“The only place a person would be on the first floor is the emergency room,” he said.
Pitt sent out email and text alerts shortly after 2 p.m. to warn people of the shooting.
“An active shooter has been identified at Western Psychiatric Institute. Several injured,” the alert said. “Possible second actor in Western Psych. Lockdown recommended until further notice. If safe to do so, tell others of this message.”
Lawton Snyder, executive director of Pitt’s Eye and Ear Foundation, said he and two other staffers were locked down about a block away, in a building that connects to the clinic. He said it was unnerving.
“Obviously I’m terribly sad for those injured. We‘re just hoping everybody’s OK and things are resolved quickly and that they can apprehend those who are responsible,” he said.
Patient Kevin Bonner, who was staying on the building’s ninth floor, several floors above the shooting scene, said there was a normal atmosphere there, with patients in the common room listening to music, watching TV, drinking and eating snacks. Bonner said no one at the hospital had told them what was going on.
“They are probably just trying to keep a calm atmosphere,” he said.
He said he had been napping and awoke to hear an announcement on the intercom: “Bronze Alert on the first floor.”
“I didn’t think I was hearing my ears right until I looked out the window” and saw police cars and a sniper, he said.
The alert and lockdown ended Thursday evening, but the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center asked that people avoid the clinic while the investigation continued. People were free to go when and where they pleased at the two network hospitals nearest the clinic, UPMC Presbyterian and UPMC Shadyside, which also had been locked down earlier in the day
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BEAR0571
Posted on March 8, 2012 at 11:05pmCall me crazy, but sometimes I think these are mini-false flag events. Lately these shootings just don’t feel right, sort of like they are “timed”….
Report Post »georgepatton
Posted on March 8, 2012 at 8:53pmWell, if Pittsburgh would follow Pennsylvania law and let people carry concealed, then there would have been only one person shot, and that would of been THE PERP!
Report Post »PaBowHunter
Posted on March 8, 2012 at 9:34pmActually in Pittsburgh (Allegheny County) it’s relatively easy to obtain a concealed carry permit.
Report Post »brads
Posted on March 8, 2012 at 9:37pmCheck your facts before you post. Pittsburgh does not have separate gun laws from the state. Concealed carry is governed only by state law. Semper Fi.
Report Post »NEUTRON
Posted on March 8, 2012 at 7:03pmAt least the injured could get medical treatment asap. It’s sad to see what our world is coming to.
Report Post »Hobbs57
Posted on March 8, 2012 at 7:44pmCan’t wait for the story to come out about why the man began firing. UPMC is out of control in this city. They own every hospital, own the insurance, and also own the company (CCBHO), which is the medical assistance, or welfare as most know it.IT is is ridiculous, seriously, people who work for them are scared to death to ever say a bad word about them, or face being fired. IF fired, they have no where else to work. Currently, the only competition, Blue Cross is in a huge battle with them over the rems of taking each others patients. Something needs to be done with Health Giants such as UPMC, as I am afraid many city’s are following suit. They are non-profit so with the 4 Billion they brought in last year, we get no tax revenue from them, they just reinvest the money and grow larger squashing out competitors. Also, for some reason, there are laws that allow these healthcare agency’s to be exempt from conflict of interest laws. By owning the medic-care/medic aide agent, they can set the prices to be paid at the only place in town the patients can go to, UPMC facilities.Basically, they are legally fleecing the tax payer. While thye do offer options, since UPMC owns the CCBHO, they determine who gets contracts and is able to take medicalcare/medicaiide patients, and run people off if they become to profitable. Somebody needs to investigate this, but I am sure they own all the politicians as well. It is like communism in healthcare.
Report Post »Teufel Hunden
Posted on March 8, 2012 at 5:46pm“Yes because people being shot and dying is HILARIOUS…”
Certain people, yes.
Report Post »skippy6
Posted on March 8, 2012 at 5:41pmIf Obama is reelected the entire USA will be gun free before his last term!!!!
Report Post »addie
Posted on March 8, 2012 at 7:32pmNever going to happen without a fight. There are not enough military and police in this country to take our guns, for the millions of gun collectors, they will have to send at least 12 officers per house. Not to mention they are going to have a hard time convincing the military to confiscate our guns considering 90% former military own firearms and will fight to the death to keep them. Miltary do not like turning on their own.
Report Post »DREDGE
Posted on March 8, 2012 at 5:36pmWell I guess we can all agree that that person was nuts!!!!
Report Post »And he got the best treatment for his illness!!!!
Michael61
Posted on March 8, 2012 at 5:35pmSee? You need guns even in psychiatric clinics. If not for patients then for workers.
Why all the shootings always happen in “Gun-free zones”??? Rhetorical question of course…
Report Post »Infidel49
Posted on March 8, 2012 at 5:12pmThe pro gun control nuts are going to have a field day with this. Oh my God, more people killed with guns, this is terrible. BUT not one word about all the babies killed EVERY SINGLE DAY. Liberalism is indeed a mental disorder.
Report Post »Itsjusttim
Posted on March 8, 2012 at 6:44pmCorrection, Liberalism is a sick evil mental disorder. They support anything that destroys life, and for example I’m sure they will argue for the protection for this shooter in the article saying things like if they have happened to shoot the shooter “Why did you have to shoot him 20 times” or they will argue for him to get humane treatment in prison. Liberals will also use it as statistics to make it harder for honest people to get guns of course while criminals still get them easy because they are criminals. The ease with which criminals get guns (because they are criminals) is another example of the way Liberals and their beliefs along with abortion, support anything which is against life.
Report Post »beh0003
Posted on March 8, 2012 at 5:09pmWho wrote this article? Dr. Seuss? It’s almost impossible to read. Very sad story though.
Report Post »Dave.the.Blaze
Posted on March 8, 2012 at 4:53pmAh, this is so sad. This kind of thing happens so often in America these days as to be almost commonplace.
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on March 8, 2012 at 4:37pmLOL :) Who would-ave thought?
Report Post »ModerationIsBest
Posted on March 8, 2012 at 4:46pmWhat’s funny about this again?
I may be missing the point of your laughter.
Report Post »Miami
Posted on March 8, 2012 at 4:59pmI‘d say Liberal Progressive gun laws that just don’t keep guns out of nut bags hands…?
But that just my opinion
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on March 8, 2012 at 5:00pm@MOD
Report Post »Being surprised at Insanity at a Psychiatric Clinic… is alike being surprised by Fish at a Fish Market!
texanpatriot
Posted on March 8, 2012 at 5:10pm@lukerw
:)
Report Post »texanpatriot
Posted on March 8, 2012 at 5:10pm@lukerw
:)
Report Post »ModerationIsBest
Posted on March 8, 2012 at 5:25pmYes because people being shot and dying is HILARIOUS……………………..
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on March 8, 2012 at 7:36pm@MOD…
Lighten up…
A Viet Nam Vet.
Report Post »