Police: Teen dead after being shot outside school on Pittsburgh's North Side

A 15-year-old boy waiting to go home after school Wednesday died after at least one person opened fire on the school van he was sitting in outside his school on Pittsburgh’s North Side.

Two suspects, at least one of whom had a handgun, remained at large hours after the shooting outside Oliver Citywide Academy in Marshall-Shadeland. Pittsburgh police investigators confirmed shortly before 5:30 p.m. that the teen had died. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner identified the student as Marquis Campbell of Pittsburgh.

“As a former principal, I know just the possibility of an incident like today is what keeps us up at night,” said interim Superintendent Wayne Walters.

The shooting happened around 1:45 p.m., said Cmdr. Richard Ford. He said Marquis was taken to Allegheny General Hospital in critical condition where he later died.

Oliver Citywide is a special education center for students in grades 3 through 12, according to the district website.

The school remained under lockdown until shortly after 3 p.m.

Walters said Marquis had been a student at Oliver Citywide since he was in third grade, and teachers at the school are inconsolable.

“He loved school, and he was so happy today to be back after the long weekend and school covid closure,” Walters said a teacher relayed. “His sense of humor was infectious.”

Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey, in a short media briefing, urged anyone with information about the incident to contact police.

“There is never a time that our kids should go to school and not be able to return home to their parents and caregivers,” he said.

Virtual Press Conference with Mayor Ed Gainey and Interim Superintendent Wayne N. Walters https://t.co/wl4tnm81iG

— Ed Gainey (@gainey_ed) January 19, 2022

The school will move to remote classes for the rest of the week.

“It is a tragedy anytime anyone is shot, but to have a teenager (shot) in front of a school is something we don’t accept,” said Pittsburgh police Chief Scott Schubert.

Ford said two suspects approached the school van as it sat outside the school and two shots were fired. He said it is not clear if both suspects had weapons.

Marquis and the van driver were the only ones in the vehicle at the time. Ford said the driver was not injured, though was “obviously very upset” and “cooperating and helping any way he can.”

Ford said police know which direction the two fled, and investigators were searching that area. The only description Ford offered was that both suspects were wearing dark clothing and masks.

“We don’t believe there is any danger to the (other) kids in school,” Ford said.

He said surveillance cameras from outside the school and adjacent buildings captured footage of the suspects. Investigators were still collecting and reviewing all footage.

“We wrap our arms around our student’s family. Today was nothing short of a tragedy in multiple spaces: as a family, as a school, as a district, as a community, as a city, as a state, as a nation,” Walters said. “Today’s experience is something that should never happen, especially at school.”

Gainey asked people with information to call police at 412-323-7800.