Argument between tow truck drivers leads to shooting

PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh police say an argument between two tow truck drivers escalated into gunfire in Pittsburgh's Larimer neighborhood.

When our Channel 11 news crew got to the scene on Washington Boulevard, they saw several police cars and three tow trucks.

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There were also evidence markers in the snow next to a gun and a baseball bat.

Police said this all started when both tow truck drivers responded to the same accident scene. The tow truck drivers got into an argument, police said.

One driver went to his truck, pulled out a baseball bat and approached the other driver. The other driver then pulled out a gun and shot the driver who had the baseball bat.

The shooting victim was taken to the hospital in critical condition, police said.

Channel 11 received a statement from Fred Rabner, the attorney representing one of the drivers.

"We, like everyone else, have heard the preliminary investigation surrounding the incident on Washington Boulevard yesterday at 3:40 pm. From all eyewitness' accounts, it appears (the driver) was under attack by an out-of-control, tow-truck driver from another outfit, who was wildly wielding a baseball bat and coming towards him in a violent manner.  It seems, (the driver), who we have only known to be a sensible, peaceful man, was forced to take action in self-defense in order to protect himself from an imminent life-threatening situation. We believe the detectives investigating this matter will sort out the facts, which will eventually show that our driver did nothing improper. On the contrary, our investigation tells us that the 'victim' of the shooting has been aggressive with other tow truck drivers on previous accident scenes as well."

We removed the driver's name from the attorney's statement because police have not identified him.

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