PITTSBURGH — A 16-year-old boy was fatally shot late Sunday night in Pittsburgh’s Northview Heights neighborhood, where additional gunshots were heard while police investigated.
Police and paramedics were called shortly before 11:30 p.m. for a shooting in a courtyard along Mt. Pleasant Road, police said. The 16-year-old victim was taken to Allegheny General Hospital, where he died.
Investigators identified the victim as Derrick Brown of Arnold. The medical examiner said he died of a gunshot wound to the head and has ruled the manner of death as homicide.
Dozens of evidence markers were placed by investigators as they processed the scene at Northview Heights Estates.
"It sounded like a washer machine when it's off balance, just boom, boom, boom," a neighbor told Channel 11's Steven Fisher.
At one point, shots were heard ringing out nearby, sending officers running from the area.
The shots turned out to have been fired in the bordering Perry South neighborhood, striking the window of a house on Goshen Street.
Northview Heights Estates Tenant Council President Valerie Lauw showed Channel 11 the gaps in the fencing around the property, where anyone can walk through.
VIDEO: Community activist asks mayor to visit Housing Authority property rocked by violence
Community activist Adrienne Young said there have been 10 homicides on the property in the last five years and the Pittsburgh Housing Authority is not doing enough.
Pittsburgh Housing Authority released the following statement:
The Housing Authority continues to make extensive efforts to reduce crime and enhance the safety of residents in Northview Heights.
Resident suggestions for crime reduction methods have been instituted including additional security cameras and a 24 hour security guard presence in our high rise and family community.
Northview is one of our communities that fortunately has a plethora of daily on site programming for seniors, after school programming for young children, starting at the age of five and on and off site programs for teens. These programs also engage in inter-generational activities that occur monthly.
We are saddened by the recent events and our condolences and prayers go out to the family as we all wrestle with this senseless act of violence.
We will continue to meet with residents as we work together to provide even more programs that include employment, education and recreation for all residents of Northview. These also include cultural blending events and programs that are geared towards our African immigrant population.
“I’m asking Mayor Peduto to please meet with these people and try to help. This doesn't make sense,” said Young.
Rashida Howard, a family friend, said she watched Brown grow up, and his death was just another tragedy for the community.
“This is crazy. Why do you have to bury your own kid? A mother should not have to go through that. Every day there is a shooting down there,” Howard said.
Howard said she worries for her son’s safety.
"I worry about my son. This has to stop. When will it stop? When (is) it going to end?” she said.
Channel 11 took the community concerns to Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto. He said even though the investigation is in its early stages, the city must do a better job at helping at-risk youths earlier in their lives.
“We need to get to them by third grade, put them on the right track,” Peduto said.