In Wilkinsburg, a troubling trend is emerging as Mayor Dontae Comans has warned of young men targeting women with various types of non-lethal weapons. According to WPXI, Mayor Comans took to Facebook to alert the community of "young males targeting women by shooting at them with stun guns, air pistols, and BB guns." These disturbing incidents have prompted officials to advocate for increased safety measures and heightened awareness among residents.
The mayor's message came as a response to information shared by local law enforcement partners. In his post, Mayor Comans described the acts as "senseless" and highlighted that these actions not only put individuals directly at risk but also "threaten the safety and peace of our community," according to a report by Audacy. No reports of injuries or arrests have been disclosed yet, but local police have been instructed to increase patrols in an attempt to quell the dangerous activity.
Residents of the Wilkinsburg community have expressed concern. "I see people on Facebook and stuff talking about it," shared Jaraya Lane, a local resident, in an interview with WPXI. Another resident, Tracy Johnson, expressed that this could also pose a danger to the perpetrators themselves, "Somebody might pull out a real gun and shoot them," she told WPXI, stressing the potential severity of the situation.
In light of these incidents, community members like Lane and Johnson have a clear message for those involved: "Don't do it. Simply, find a different hobby or go paintballing somewhere," said Lane, per WPXI. Throughout his efforts to address the situation, Mayor Comans echoed that sentiment and has been actively encouraging residents "to be aware of their surroundings, walk in groups, if possible and report any suspicious activity," according to a report by Audacy. Anyone with information about the ongoing incidents is urged to contact police or dial 911 immediately.
