PITTSBURGH — A substitute teacher at Pittsburgh Public Schools' University Prep was held at gunpoint in the school's parking lot Wednesday morning.
School spokeswoman Ebony Pugh said the woman was approached by a black man in his 30s wearing a black, hooded sweatshirt, black pants and a yellow bandana.
Pugh said when the man threatened the teacher, she fought back, pushed the man and pulled the bandana off his face. The teacher was then able to run into the building without injury.
The teacher, who wished to remain anonymous, told Channel 11’s Vince Sims that it was her second day on the job.
“The first thing I thought about while being attacked and running away was my kids because I thought I was going to die,” the victim said.
The woman said she heard someone run up behind her and she reacted.
“He grabbed me right here and I grabbed him. Then we started shaking each other. He had a yellow bandana on his face, so I grabbed that and the strings on his hoodie. I got in his face a little bit,” the woman said. “I pushed him backward and he stumbled back and I tried to knock the gun out of his hand. When I realized he wasn’t going to shoot me, I took off.”
According to police, the attacker then took off as well. Officers searched the surrounding area, but the suspect got away.
"People have a right to come to work in a safe environment and leave in a safe environment, so I would hope that the person is found and taken care of," said Betsy Hunt, who lives near the school. "I commend her for what she did; for snatching the mask off the gentleman's face to be able to identify him."
Additional security was added at the school and will be there throughout the week, Pugh said.
School police said they are reviewing surveillance footage from cameras outside the building.
So far, no arrests have been made.