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Cops responding to Shotspotter alert find gas line ruptured by gunfire; homes evacuated

Tony LaRussa
By Tony LaRussa
1 Min Read Sept. 11, 2020 | 6 years ago
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Pittsburgh police officers responding to a Shotspotter alert overnight in the city’s Marshall-Shadeland neighborhood didn’t catch any suspects.

But they may have prevented a tragedy.

Officers from the Zone 1 station who responded to the automated gunfire detection alert in the 3000 block of Shadeland Avenue shortly after midnight found evidence that dozens of gunshots had been fired — along with a strong odor of natural gas, according to a police bureau spokesman.

Police noticed that a gas meter on a nearby home had been hit by a bullet and was leaking. A number of homes in the area also were hit by the barrage of gunfire.

Homes in the vicinity were evacuated and firefighters were dispatched to shut off the line.

A utility crew was called in to repair the damage and residents were allowed to return to their homes.

No injuries were reported.

The shooting is under investigation.

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About the Writer

Tony LaRussa is a TribLive reporter. A Pittsburgh native, he covers crime and courts in the Alle-Kiski Valley. He can be reached at tlarussa@triblive.com.

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