More than a dozen shots fired in Alle-Kiski Valley neighborhoods

PITTSBURGH — Police continue to investigate Monday after more than a dozen shots were reported fired in Allegheny Township, Lower Burrell and Apollo early Saturday.

Authorities said they believe the three buildings hit, including homes in Allegheny Township and Apollo, were random targets. Investigators said they believe the shootings happened between midnight and 5 a.m. Saturday.

In Allegheny Township, a bullet went through the front door of an elderly couple's home on Markle Road and lodged in an interior wall.

Although no one was hurt in any of the shootings, authorities told Channel 11’s Timyka Artist that the shootings are cause for concern.

“That's quite a bit more of a crime rather than vandalism,” Allegheny Township police Chief John Fontaine said. “You're definitely endangering people's lives by shooting into a house like that.”

About seven shots were reported in Apollo, including one hitting a house. In addition, a bullet was fired into an empty Lower Burrell storefront -- one of three incidents reported there, police said..

Where police found bullets or shell casings, they were all from a 9 mm gun. Evidence recovered has been sent to a crime lab for analysis. There were no descriptions of any individuals or vehicles involved.

“Our investigators are comparing notes right now to see if there is a link between them,” Fontaine said Monday morning. “There are a lot of similarities.”

In Lower Burrell, a bullet hole was found in the front window of the former Brooks Gardens and Floral Designs on Leechburg Road. The 9 mm bullet hit the sliding glass door of a flower case inside, police Officer Ken Smail said.

Five shots were reported at Markle Road and Schafer Drive, near the border of Allegheny Township and Upper Burrell.

A stop sign there had five holes in it, and five 9 mm casings were found on the road, the chief said.

“It appears to be just random acts of violence,” Fontaine said. “As this plays out, we may discover there's more to this. As of right now, none of the incidents seem to be connected other than the evidence found at the scene.”

Fontaine said he has increased patrols, and he asked for the public to be alert. Residents are urged to call 911 if they hear gunshots, as an officer could be in the area, he said.

“Definitely we want the public to notify 911,” Fontaine said. “We're going to investigate every one of them.”

Channel 11’s news exchange partners at TribLIVE contributed to this report.

WPXI