‘We’ve seen it all’: Strip District business owners, workers react to overnight shooting

PITTSBURGH — Several well-known businesses, including Bella Notte, are within view of where two people were shot in Pittsburgh’s Strip District overnight.

General manager Rick Carrozzi said when he came outside Friday morning to set up tables and chairs, he noticed damage to the garage, located on the side of Bella Notte: an apparent bullet hole on the side of his family restaurant.

“[It] looks like something that had been shot through,” Carrozzi said. “It happens everywhere, I guess, but for the most part, it’s pretty safe down here. It really doesn’t shake me very much.”

Carrozzi said the damage was not there on Thursday night, hours before the shooting. Police taped off the area around the crime scene, placing more than a dozen evidence markers on Penn Avenue.

Haverly Swart, who works in the Strip District, said she was a little surprised.

“Like I was saying, it’s been a lot nicer down here since they put in all the apartments and stuff like that. Years ago, I wouldn’t necessarily be surprised after dark if something like that happened,” said Haverly Swart, who works in the Strip District. “I think it’s very safe down here. I think it’s a lovely area.”

Public safety officials said two male victims arrived at a hospital around 12:45 Friday morning. One had been shot in the foot, the other was shot in the arm and leg. At last check, both were stable.

“I’ve been down here 30-some years already…we’ve seen it all,” Carrozzi said.

No one has been arrested. Detectives continue to investigate.

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