The Pittsburgh Police Department has apprehended 28-year-old Jaraye McLaughlin, a Monroeville resident, in connection with the double shooting that took place in broad daylight in the Cultural District of Pittsburgh on August 1. The shooting incident, which left a man and woman with gunshot wounds, occurred around 4:30 p.m. at the intersection of Penn Avenue and Garrison Place.
Both victims were rushed to local hospitals with injuries; according to WTAE, they were reported to be in stable condition following the incident. The dramatic scene unfolded as surveillance footage captured McLaughlin's confrontation with one victim at Penn Avenue and 9th Street, and followed him to Garrison Place, where the shooting ensued. CBS News Pittsburgh reported a bystander's account, "One person told police they had to push their family out of the way of gunfire and dove on a juvenile to make sure they did not get shot."
McLaughlin's path to the scene was tracked using video surveillance and digital footprints. According to CBS News Pittsburgh, McLaughlin had taken a Pittsburgh Regional Transit bus downtown, disembarking less than 20 minutes before the shooting occurred. His use of a QR tap through the Ready2Ride app for his bus fare ultimately aided police in confirming his movements before the shooting.
McLaughlin now faces a litany of charges, including three counts of aggravated assault, prohibited possession of a firearm, and six counts of recklessly endangering another person, and is currently being held in Allegheny County Jail.
