PITTSBURGH — Two suspects have been detained as “people of interest” after a shooting at a funeral in Pittsburgh on Friday, authorities said.
According to a news release from the Pittsburgh Public Safety Department, the suspects were detained late Friday.
The shooting happened outside the Destiny of Faith Church in the Brighton Heights neighborhood of Pittsburgh, WPXI-TV reported. The church’s pastor told the television station that people were hiding under pews as 40 to 50 shots were fired outside the building.
Initial reports indicated that a weapon was thrown from a vehicle on the McKees Rocks Bridge shortly before the suspects were detained, according to the television station.
The suspects were driving a Hyundai Elantra, according to WPXI.
[ 6 shot at Pittsburgh funeral ]
The shooting occurred outside the church while a funeral was in progress, the television station reported. Witnesses told WPXI that the funeral was being held for a shooting victim from an incident earlier this month.
According to the Pittsburgh Public Safety Department’s news release, there were six victims. Five of them suffered gunshot wounds, and a sixth person was injured while attempting to flee the area.
According to police, first responders found one victim suffering from gunshot wounds near the church. That person was taken to an area hospital and was listed in critical condition.
Four other people were wounded. Three took themselves to an area hospital, and the fourth person was found by emergency medical service personnel and taken to a hospital, according to the news release.
Mayor Ed Gainey asked residents not to retaliate.
“Don’t retaliate, communicate,” Gainey said, according to WPXI. “Don’t go out there and take it upon yourself, because we never get justice that way.”