Allegheny County

Police charge man accused of instigating gun fight on the South Side

PITTSBURGH — A man is facing attempted homicide charges, accused of instigating a gun fight that broke out early Sunday morning on the South Side.

Christopher Young, 27, remained hospitalized at last check, but has an active warrant out for his arrest, pending medical clearance.

According to court documents obtained by Channel 11, Young was caught on camera pointing a stolen gun with a laser at another male, around 2:30 a.m. Sunday.

In video surveillance provided by investigators, the two are seen standing amid a crowd, outside of a bar at the corner of South 15th and East Carson streets.

As the male is seen walking away, Young fires the weapon.

That victim is seen falling to the ground, as a friend of his instantly fires a return shot at Young. Young is then seen falling to the ground, next to the passenger side of a parked vehicle.

The second shooter runs toward his wounded friend, located on the driver side of that same vehicle. The video captures additional shots being fired.

Within seconds, police are seen pulling up.

Both Young and the male he allegedly shot were taken to the hospital in critical condition. Young’s weapon was seized, and determined to be stolen out of Penn Hills, court documents say.

The shooter who returned fire had placed his two firearms on a nearby street “as to not be armed upon the arrival of officers,” according to court documents. That individual then returned to the scene, cooperated with police and directed officers to where his weapons were. Both guns were legally owned and, according to court documents, that man had a concealed carry license. He was ultimately released “pending further investigation into the justification of the circumstances surrounding the shooting.”

The police paperwork did not indicate a clear motive. The shooter who was released told officers that there had been no prior incidents or altercations that evening.

The shooting was the second reported on the South Side that weekend, and comes as officers are saturating the area in hopes of decreasing the violence.