Pittsburgh leaders brace for busy weekend amid ongoing violence

Pittsburgh city and police officials held a catch-all news conference Friday afternoon to discuss safety measures this weekend on the North Shore and South Side, though they declined to give updates on any high-profile ongoing investigations.

Violence on the city’s South Side, particularly in the East Carson Street entertainment district, has been in the spotlight after a spate of shootings over recent weekends. Mayor Ed Gainey said he plans to visit the area around closing time one night this weekend, though he declined to give specifics.

“We want everyone to come here, and we want them to have responsible fun and to be able to enjoy and support the responsible businesses on Carson Street,” Gainey said. “But we can’t have the disruptive behavior that has erupted on our South Side, and we plan on focusing all of our policing efforts on that behavior.”

On Saturday morning, photos on Gainey’s Twitter account showed he walked around the South Side with other city officials overnight.

“It was important for be to come down to the South Side to talk with residents and see what is happening on East Carson Street,” Gainey wrote. “This visit was important as we continue to build out Pittsburgh’s plan for peace to ensure that everyone is safe in our city.”

It was important for be to come down to the South Side to talk with residents and see what is happening on East Carson St.

This visit was important as we continue to build out Pittsburgh’s plan for peace to ensure that everyone is safe in our city. 1/2 pic.twitter.com/wdHAcMnaKQ

— Mayor Ed Gainey (@MayorEdGainey) June 11, 2022

He said he also plans to meet with South Side business owners and residents next week.

I walked E Carson St with Chief of Staff @JakeWheatleyJr, Director of @PghPublicSafety Lee Schmidt, & Councilor @BruceKraus.

Thank you to those who talked with me tonight. I look forward to continuing to develop our plan for peace on Tuesday with residents & business owners. 2/2 pic.twitter.com/VtvlLMECE2

— Mayor Ed Gainey (@MayorEdGainey) June 11, 2022

Public Safety officials also said law enforcement will be on hand for the masses that the Kenny Chesney concert will bring to Heinz Field on Saturday, including on the rivers.

Officials ran down a list of recent arrests made in several homicides:

• Khatrell Haynes-Morgan in the June 1 death of Glenn Davenport;

• Zahvair Palmer in the March 19 shooting of Adam Cloud;

• Markez Anger, who was wanted in connection with the May 28 drive-by shooting that killed an infant in Downtown Pittsburgh.

Related:

• 'Enforce the laws': South Side business owners fear for patron, employee safety after rash of shootings
• South Side shooter used stolen gun, victim returned fire, police say
• Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey unveils plan to combat city violence

Authorities also released information about a homicide this week in which a suspect was tracked to Philadelphia. Police said Sharay Newson was reported missing Tuesday and found dead in her Pittsburgh home the next day. Investigators filed charges against her husband, John Newson.

U.S. Marshals in Philadelphia were executing a warrant at a home to which they’d tracked John Newson on Friday when shots were fired inside. A SWAT team responded, and John Newson was found dead inside of a suspected self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Police leaders declined to give any update in several other high-profile homicides in the city, including the Easter Day mass shooting at an Airbnb party on the North Side. Two teenage boys were killed and at least 10 other people were wounded when gunfire erupted at the largely underage party.

“There’s a lot of layers to that and a lot of hours that go on that,” Cmdr. Richard Ford said. “There’s a lot that goes on behind the scenes.”

He asked for anybody with information — including those who might have already spoken with police but have more information — to come forward.

Officials also said they could not comment on the January shooting outside a North Side school that killed 15-year-old Marquis Campbell of Pittsburgh.