A night out on Brushton Avenue turned chaotic when police say a woman fired multiple shots toward a group of people outside Romeo's Bar, with one round hitting the building while patrons were still inside.
The woman, identified in court papers as Shatika Lowery, is accused of opening fire last Tuesday night after a confrontation spilled into the street. Investigators say three rounds were fired, and at least one bullet struck the bar while people remained inside.
According to a criminal complaint cited by WTAE, Lowery parked her Jeep on Brushton Avenue at about 8:25 p.m. and went into Romeo's Bar, staying for roughly two and a half hours. Police say a verbal dispute broke out in the street after she left. She allegedly stepped away, then came back, removed a wig, and got into a physical fight with another woman in the roadway.
Detectives told WTAE that Lowery then walked back to her vehicle, pulled out a gun, and fired three rounds toward four people standing about 15 yards away. Two shots landed near the group, investigators say, and one struck the bar itself.
Court documents say Lowery told police she fired the gun "to scare away the group" and later acknowledged to detectives that she knew the others were walking away at the time. She also apologized, according to the complaint.
Police arrested Lowery during a traffic stop the following day. She now faces multiple counts, including aggravated assault and reckless endangerment, as the case moves forward in Allegheny County.
Charges and legal exposure
Court filings list aggravated assault and reckless endangerment among the charges against Lowery, allegations that carry significant potential penalties in Pennsylvania. Under state law, aggravated assault can be prosecuted as either a first- or second-degree felony, depending on the circumstances. Recklessly endangering another person is classified as a misdemeanor of the second degree. The offenses are defined in 18 Pa.C.S. § 2702 and § 2705.
Brushton Avenue and Homewood context
The stretch of Brushton Avenue in Homewood where Romeo's Bar sits is no stranger to police activity, with repeated gun-related incidents reported in recent years. That pattern shows up in the City of Pittsburgh public safety blotter and in past coverage of the neighborhood.
Pittsburgh police say detectives are reviewing video and other evidence from the night of Feb. 10 as Lowery's case proceeds through the Allegheny County court system.
