A 30-year-old man from Ohio faces charges of attempted homicide after a violent altercation in Downtown Pittsburgh that left a 65-year-old man critically wounded. The suspect, identified as Christopher Leroy Harris Jr., is also charged with aggravated assault and recklessly endangering another person, according to reports by WPXI.
Yesterday, near the intersection of Liberty Avenue and Smithfield Street, around 5 a.m., the Pittsburgh Police discovered the victim suffering from multiple stab wounds. Witnesses conveyed to the officers an unsettling scene, stating "there was blood everywhere," in a 911 call shared by WTAE. The injured man, who was stabbed as many as 30 to 40 times, lay on the ground with significant injuries to his head, upper body, back, and lower body.
Surveillance footage ensued the unraveled sequence of violence, capturing Harris amid the stabbing. The victim, who was merely sitting on a milk crate outside a business and did not appear to interact with his attacker, was savagely attacked by Harris. Police affidavits cite the footage showing Harris bending toward the victim, unleashing a relentless series of stabs, even as the man fell helplessly to the ground.
Authorities managed to locate Harris under the Veterans Bridge after examining additional surveillance video, which followed his movements after the attack. While the detectives had him detained, it came to light that he had an outstanding arrest warrant out of Ohio, according to WTAE. When approached with the surveillance video evidence, Harris declined to view the images and asked for a lawyer during the police interview.
The critically injured man received immediate medical attention at a local hospital, where he remains in critical condition.
