PITTSBURGH — A man is facing charges for allegedly shooting a Duquesne University student during an attempted robbery in Downtown Pittsburgh.
According to a police report, the unnamed student was walking home from a birthday party around 4 a.m. on Sunday, June 25, when he was approached by Evan Gaither, 37.
Officers say the student was approached by a man in the Montour Way alley, in the area of William Penn Place and 6th Avenue, near the Omni William Penn Hotel and Mellon Square Park.
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Police paperwork states that the man offered to sell him drugs, which he declined.
Investigators say Gaither then pointed a gun at the student, saying, “Give me what you got.”
When the student refused, police say Gaither shot him in the hip.
“Yeah, that’s a real shame,” said David Mulholland, who works downtown. “A young person should be able to, I mean, over a simple robbery. That’s terrible. I mean, probably a couple bucks in the wallet. Who carries cash anymore?”
The victim was able to run for help and was eventually taken to a hospital in stable condition.
Police used video surveillance to identify Gaither.
Police are looking for Gaither, who, according to the criminal complaint, is homeless and typically stays at the Second Avenue Commons shelter, several blocks from the shooting scene.
The student who was shot was expected to be OK, but according to officials, doctors were not able to remove the bullet from his body because they say that would have caused further damage.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Pittsburgh police incorrectly issued a release stating Gaither was taken into custody. They have since issued a correction, stating that Gaither was not arrested. An arrest warrant has been issued for Gaither.
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