PGHIMC - Pittsburgh Independent Media Center

Pittsburgh Pigs Kill...Again
by repost Wednesday, Oct. 20, 2004 at 2:33 PM

More legal murder. I wonder what Zappala will say?

Chief says shooting by cops appears justified
Wednesday, October 20, 2004

By Jonathan D. Silver, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Cautioning that the investigation is still in its early stages, Pittsburgh Police Chief Robert McNeilly said today that two officers appeared justified when they fired into a car that reportedly was driving toward one of them during a drug arrest last night.

Two people in the car were wounded when police opened fire at Penn and Lang avenues in North Point Breeze.

McNeilly, at a press conference this afternoon, gave this account of the incident, which began around 7 p.m.:

Undercover police witnessed a suspected drug transaction between people in two cars in a parking lot in East Liberty, and then police followed as both cars headed to North Point Breeze. Backup units were called in and stopped both cars at Penn and Lang.

Two men in one car stopped and surrendered. They are Andre Higgs, 21, of Homestead, and Austin Bugel, 20, of Munhall. They are charged with drug possession and possession with intent to deliver. Drugs were found in their car.

The driver of the other car, however, refused officers' demands to turn off the ignition. That driver, identified as Walter D. Anderson, 21, of Lincoln-Lemington, backed up into an unmarked police car and then drove toward narcotics detective John McBurney, a 10-year-veteran who was standing in front of Anderson's car.

McNeilly was uncertain how fast Anderson was moving and how close he was to the detective.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

McBurney, who had his gun drawn, fired five times into the car. Anderson backed into the unmarked car again, and then began driving forward.

Another officer who was near the car, Todd McCollum of the East Liberty station, fired four times into the car. This time the driver gave up.

Anderson was shot in the chest and arm. A passenger, Jateya Holt, 21, of Garfield, was hit in the hip.

Police said Anderson was wanted in two robberies. They found a plastic pistol but no drugs in his car, but they called him a drug suspect. Holt was not charged.

A detective in the car that was rammed was shaken up but not seriously injured.

McNeilly said it is permissible for officers, under the department's regulations, to fire at a moving vehicle if the officers feel they are endangered.

The investigation is being done in cooperation with the county district attorney's office.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

More details in tomorrow's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

add your comments