Uber dash cam captures man shot in South Side over pizza dispute

PITTSBURGH — A violent South Side shooting that allegedly erupted over a pizza dispute was all caught on an Uber driver’s dash cam, and played in open court Wednesday.

Channel 11 told you back in July when 22-year-old Rafik White, of Duquesne, was charged with attempted homicide and aggravated assault for the violent incident, which left one man with critical injuries.

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In court documents obtained by Channel 11, investigators claim that the victim and friends had just picked up a pizza and were walking down South 13th Street toward Bingham.

White and another individual, who were reportedly unknown to the group, were near a nearby parked vehicle and requested a slice. The group declined to offer food to the unknown pair, and so the men allegedly followed them, documents claim.

The dash cam video obtained by Channel 11 shows the Uber driver pull up toward the crowd and brake as an argument appears to break out.

A man, identified by police as White, is then seen pulling a gun and shooting one person at point-blank range. The victim is seen falling to the ground. According to police, he had been shot in the neck and chest, and was taken to the hospital in critical condition, but survived.

During a bond hearing for White on Wednesday, the prosecutor told the judge that had it not been for the medical personnel who treated the victim, this could have been a homicide case.

White’s attorney, Milt Raiford, conceded that his client is indeed the person seen pulling the trigger, and that he did so while heavily under the influence.

Raiford claimed his client struggles with addiction and substance abuse, and attributed those challenges to systemic issues, arguing that his client should be released from jail and instead sent to an inpatient facility.

The judge stated it would be “remiss” of him to release White, in the interest of the victim and the community, but he did agree to order two evaluations for him.

Raiford told Channel 11 he was satisfied with the outcome.

White is due back in court next month.

The incident was among a string of shootings and assaults reported in the neighborhood over the summer, prompting police to pick up patrols.

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