Gunfire tore through a Rankin block on Saturday, leaving two teenage boys wounded and a neighborhood on edge as police searched for a masked group of shooters near a local church.
Allegheny County officials said the teens were hit multiple times on the 300 block of 4th Avenue in Rankin, then rushed to area hospitals. Authorities did not immediately release the boys’ names or update their conditions, and the investigation remained very much active as detectives canvassed the street for anyone who saw or heard what happened.
What police say
Allegheny County police told WTAE that four men wearing masks walked up to the teenagers on the 300 block of 4th Avenue and opened fire. The group then ran off on foot in the direction of 3rd Avenue, according to the station.
Investigators said both victims were taken to local hospitals for treatment after suffering multiple gunshot wounds. Officials did not release additional details about their injuries.
Where it happened
The shooting unfolded in a residential stretch of 4th Avenue near Mt. Olive Baptist Church, just a short walk from Rankin Boulevard. The area has already been shaken by gunfire this week: a 4-year-old was shot inside a Rankin home in a separate incident days earlier, an event detailed in 4-year-old shot inside a Rankin home as county detectives worked that case.
Police seeking tips
Detectives are asking anyone who knows anything about Saturday’s shooting to speak up. The Allegheny County Police tip line is 1-833-ALL-TIPS, and tips can also be sent through the department’s online portal.
According to WTAE, investigators are looking for four suspects described only as masked men who took off on foot toward 3rd Avenue. County police phone numbers and the tip submission page are listed on the Allegheny County website.
Neighborhood context
Rankin, a small borough just east of Pittsburgh, has been wrestling with recurring gun violence that residents say has worn down daily life and rattled a tight-knit community. Local outlets have tracked several shootings in recent months, including a deadly incident last August reported by WPXI.
Against that backdrop, community leaders and police have repeated a familiar plea: they need tips, and they need people willing to talk, if there is going to be any real progress in finding those responsible.
