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Teen remains in critical condition after gunfire erupts on North Side basketball court

PITTSBURGH — A 16-year-old boy remained hospitalized in critical but stable condition Wednesday after gunfire erupted Tuesday evening during an argument on a basketball court on Pittsburgh’s North Side, Pittsburgh police spokeswoman Sonya Toler told Channel 11 News.

Police said officers and paramedics were called to the 1000 block of Arch Street at 7:25 p.m. Tuesday for a report of shots fired. Authorities said they found a boy and a girl suffering from injuries.%

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Officials said the 16-year-old boy, who had three gunshot wounds, was taken to a hospital in critical condition.

The 16-year-old girl was also taken to a hospital but with non-life-threatening injuries. Authorities said the girl's knee was grazed by a bullet. She was treated and released from the hospital.

Authorities said during the argument at West Park, someone took out a gun, which dropped to the ground. Another person then fired shots, injuring the two teens.

The investigation is ongoing, police said.

The incident Tuesday was one of four recent shootings on the North Side, leading Pittsburgh City Councilman Daniel LaVelle and other community leaders to call a public meeting to address the violence.

"By and large, the North Side is still a very safe neighborhood. But we understand what's happening, and we're actively working to address it,” LaVelle said.

Despite the four shootings in three weeks, crime statistics don’t appear to reflect a trend.

Crime stats from Pittsburgh police show a significant drop in shootings and calls for shots fired in the North Side over the last five years.

“This is an unusual spate, but you have to take the long view and look at the trend,” Mark Fatla with the Northside Leadership Conference said.

Fatla said his neighborhood is getting safer, and it will take a community response to make sure that trend continues.

"Collectively, we can make an impact. We've proven that on the North Side over the last 20 years,” he said.

The public meeting to address the recent violence will take place Monday in Fineview.