The quiet streets of Rankin, a small borough in Allegheny County, have been the scene of a significant law enforcement operation, with authorities executing a search warrant last month at the home of Mayor Joelisa McDonald. According to Audacy, sources revealed that during the March 14th raid, a stolen firearm was recovered and a 16-year-old boy was arrested on charges including possession of a firearm by a minor and tampering with evidence. The teen has been identified as McDonald's son and is currently held at the Shuman Juvenile Detention Center.
Additional information from WPXI suggests the raid may have a connection with a shootout involving the teenager, who allegedly posted a social media video showing bullet holes and shattered glass from an incident where Mayor McDonald's home was the target, however, despite this severe context the teen appeared to dance in the video which had the caption "when they shoot up your house, but only hit windows and bricks".
Rankin Borough, in the throes of grappling with the incident, finds itself at a crossroads, especially given Mayor McDonald's role as commissioner for the Eastern Regional Mon Valley Police Department. This position places her within the crux of law enforcement and community relations, as sources stated, per WTAE, Mayor McDonald was not physically present at the commission's latest meeting, as she was attending a conference but joined via phone, and the incident was not publicly discussed. Meanwhile, the mayors of East Pittsburgh and North Braddock were recently removed from the same commission.
