PITTSBURGH — The owners of a fudge and ice cream shop on the South Side are shutting down their business after another weekend of gun violence on East Carson Street.
Walt Rainey says two people were shot right in front of his shop, Fudge Farm, and right in front of a police cruiser. He fears if an increased police presence isn’t stopping the violence, nothing will. He said this weekend, dozens of people ran through his shop, many hiding in the kitchen.
“We have people running through our store, running from gun violence,” Rainey said.
Early Saturday morning, a male ran into the Cambod-Ican Kitchen restaurant to call 911 and take cover when he was struck in the leg by a stray bullet.
Two males are in critical condition after a shooting on Pittsburgh’s South Side early Sunday morning. An officer working a detail in the 1500 block of East Carson Street heard several rounds fired and saw people running from an apparent exchange of gunfire between individuals who were on foot.
Rainey says he employs mostly teenagers and didn’t want to put them in harm’s way. “You have to think about everybody’s well-being, with someone being a teen, I couldn’t fathom someone getting hurt on my property.”
Rainey shared video with Channel 11 of another violent incident that happened last month. Surveillance video shows a woman being violently beaten by the Fudge Farm sidewalk sign.
Fudge Farm’s second location, in Homestead, will remain open.
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