Alarming Trend In Pittsburgh Violence (Penn Hills, McKeesport: 2015, apartment complex, violent crime)

[Uptown kid]

Shootings are on the rise again, but more so than ever. In the past shootings like these occurred but were far more rare. Now it seems that [A] If your standing near to, friends with or related to a gang member you can be shot as a target. And [b] You can be an innocent, non gang-affiliated woman, baby, child, middle aged adult or elderly person of a rival hood and get shot simply because of being a resident of a rival hood where a youth gang member did wrong doing to the perpetrator's side. Personally, I think this notion is also a result of the increasing opioid epidemic that is plaguing even drug dealers and gang members themselves. These guys are often off of a MIX of Percocets, Xannies, Molly, laced weed, cocaine, etc when they do mass shootings... Waking up the next day not remembering what they've done.

Ultimately what is certainly happening is that shootings with two or more victims are increasing, more random/innocent people are getting killed and more shootings are occurring with crowds of 20+ people witnessing (and still only a small percentage of apprehension of shooters by police because of rare cooperation)...
Not every shooting in the list below has the same narrative, but you can see the trend.
Most recently 5 dead in Wilkinsburg mass shooting; Gunmen still on loose... Also recently committed acts of mass violence/chaotic shootings within "the Body Bag" (which spills over into Penn Hills, and soon further East) ie. Garfield - north of Broad St, the remaining hood parts of East Liberty, Lincoln-Larimer, Homewood, the rough area East Hills & the core of Wilkinsburg:
2015 Children, woman shot during vigil in Homewood North
2015 Boy's death in East Hills still unsolved; police return to neighborhood
2013 15-month-old killed in East Hills shooting
2012 Grandmother wounded in East Liberty youth game shooting dies
However, the rest of Pittsburgh has this gang problem too
-North Side: 2014 Man killed after memorial gathering in Northview Heights

-Southern Hilltop: 2015 3 charged in shooting death of Carrick High School football player
2015 Rifle-wielding suspect killed in police shootout on Route 51
"Around 10 a.m. Monday, McLay said there was a 911 call about shots fired on Jucunda Street in Beltzhoover. Within minutes, there were multiple calls about someone with a gun who was actively firing at citizens,"

-West End: 2015 4 men shot while playing dice; 19-year-old killed

-Hill District: 2015 1 Dead, 3 Injured In Hill District Shootings

-Hazelwood-Homestead-Glen Hazel: 2015 Arrest made in fatal broad day Homestead shooting
2015 Police investigating double shooting in Hazelwood
1 dead in Glen Hazel broad day double shooting "... masked attackers walked over to him and fired several more rounds into the victim while standing over him"

-Mon Valley: 2015 Man killed, 3 injured in East Pittsburgh shooting
2015 2 Teens, Pregnant Woman Shot In Rankin
2013 Police Investigate Double Homicide In Duquesne
Crawford Village, McKeesport:
State of Emergency: 6 dead, 3 wounded in 8 days in McKeesport (2010 Triple Homicide At McKeesport Birthday Party)
7th Ward Mckeesport: 2016 McKeesport home is target of recent shootings

-Stowe Rocks:
2015 Three Shot Outside McKees Rocks Apartment Complex

[gg]

I think this trend will continue. I feel now that the media via smartphone and hype will promote total hopelessness in poverty stricken areas to the point blood will boil and people will just shoot if provoked at all. I think the trend will start in the mostly poor areas and then start moving into other surrounding areas. The mental strain on minorities with how things are reported and then the racists remarks people read to full fires to the point of craziness is inevitable.

You should give your opinion on the Wilkinsburg shooting. Hard to be totally numb to that one. So depressing. People can't even have a little BBQ I guess.

[bluecarebear]

Originally Posted by Uptown kid

Waking up the next day not remembering what they've done.

From my experience, the criminals know what they are doing. Last night's shooting was planned. It wasn't a crime of passion from being high and angry. This was a message. Whatever the motive, the shooters made calculated decisions to seek revenge.

[Uptown kid]

Originally Posted by bluecarebear

From my experience, the criminals know what they are doing. Last night's shooting was planned. It wasn't a crime of passion from being high and angry. This was a message. Whatever the motive, the shooters made calculated decisions to seek revenge.

You're right... *Waking up having peace with what they've done is want I meant to say. The drugs numb the killers brains to the violence and suppress their conventional thoughts about shooting multiple innocent people. Whether they take them before or after a mass shooting is not the point, I mainly wanted to say that they're abusing them for the stated reason.

[Goinback2011]

Dont forget the home invasion in Mt Oliver where an 11 year old was gunned down. It's still unsolved.

[gladhands]

Heroin epidemic.

[erieguy]

Originally Posted by gladhands

Heroin epidemic.

And repeat offenders with weapons and stolen firearms.

[stburr91]

Originally Posted by Uptown kid

Shootings are on the rise again, but more so than ever. In the past shootings like these occurred but were far more rare. Now it seems that [A] If your standing near to, friends with or related to a gang member you can be shot as a target. And [b] You can be an innocent, non gang-affiliated woman, baby, child, middle aged adult or elderly person of a rival hood and get shot simply because of being a resident of a rival hood where a youth gang member did wrong doing to the perpetrator's side. Personally, I think this notion is also a result of the increasing opioid epidemic that is plaguing even drug dealers and gang members themselves. These guys are often off of a MIX of Percocets, Xannies, Molly, laced weed, cocaine, etc when they do mass shootings... Waking up the next day not remembering what they've done.

Ultimately what is certainly happening is that shootings with two or more victims are increasing, more random/innocent people are getting killed and more shootings are occurring with crowds of 20+ people witnessing (and still only a small percentage of apprehension of shooters by police because of rare cooperation)...
Not every shooting in the list below has the same narrative, but you can see the trend.
Most recently 5 dead in Wilkinsburg mass shooting; Gunmen still on loose... Also recently committed acts of mass violence/chaotic shootings within "the Body Bag" (which spills over into Penn Hills, and soon further East) ie. Garfield - north of Broad St, the remaining hood parts of East Liberty, Lincoln-Larimer, Homewood, the rough area East Hills & the core of Wilkinsburg:
2015 Children, woman shot during vigil in Homewood North
2015 Boy's death in East Hills still unsolved; police return to neighborhood
2013 15-month-old killed in East Hills shooting
2012 Grandmother wounded in East Liberty youth game shooting dies
However, the rest of Pittsburgh has this gang problem too
-North Side: 2014 Man killed after memorial gathering in Northview Heights

-Southern Hilltop: 2015 3 charged in shooting death of Carrick High School football player
2015 Rifle-wielding suspect killed in police shootout on Route 51
"Around 10 a.m. Monday, McLay said there was a 911 call about shots fired on Jucunda Street in Beltzhoover. Within minutes, there were multiple calls about someone with a gun who was actively firing at citizens,"

-West End: 2015 4 men shot while playing dice; 19-year-old killed

-Hill District: 2015 1 Dead, 3 Injured In Hill District Shootings

-Hazelwood-Homestead-Glen Hazel: 2015 Arrest made in fatal broad day Homestead shooting
2015 Police investigating double shooting in Hazelwood
1 dead in Glen Hazel broad day double shooting "... masked attackers walked over to him and fired several more rounds into the victim while standing over him"

-Mon Valley: 2015 Man killed, 3 injured in East Pittsburgh shooting
2015 2 Teens, Pregnant Woman Shot In Rankin
2013 Police Investigate Double Homicide In Duquesne
Crawford Village, McKeesport:
State of Emergency: 6 dead, 3 wounded in 8 days in McKeesport (2010 Triple Homicide At McKeesport Birthday Party)
7th Ward Mckeesport: 2016 McKeesport home is target of recent shootings

-Stowe Rocks:
2015 Three Shot Outside McKees Rocks Apartment Complex

The problem is that you start your post off with what is factually incorrect. While we are seeing a slight uptick in violent crime, we have seen much, much worse. I know, I personally saw Wilkinsburg at it's worst in the early 90"s, when it was the most dangerous area in Allegheny County.

There was an interesting post on another sub-forum here on CD, where a criminologist talked about the direct correlation between mandatory sentencing for drug offences (especially crack cocaine), and a drop in all crime. This criminologist said that as we see mandatory sentencing for drug offences begin to be repealed, and we go back to a catch, and release practice, we are seeing a rise in crime. This poster also said that there is a clear pattern that can be seen, that offenders that committed certain crimes (especially using, or selling crack cocaine), were much more likely to be repeat offenders, as well as violent crime offenders.

While I don't necessarily agree with mandatory sentencing, we may need to consider keeping it for certain crimes.

[gladhands]

Originally Posted by stburr91

The problem is that you start your post off with what is factually incorrect. While we are seeing a slight uptick in violent crime, we have seen much, much worse. I know, I personally saw Wilkinsburg at it's worst in the early 90"s, when it was the most dangerous area in Allegheny County.

There was an interesting post on another sub-forum here on CD, where a criminologist talked about the direct correlation between mandatory sentencing for drug offences (especially crack cocaine), and a drop in all crime. This criminologist said that as we see mandatory sentencing for drug offences begin to be repealed, and we go back to a catch, and release practice, we are seeing a rise in crime. This poster also said that there is a clear pattern that can be seen, that offenders that committed certain crimes (especially using, or selling crack cocaine), were much more likely to be repeat offenders, as well as violent crime offenders.

While I don't necessarily agree with mandatory sentencing, we may need to consider keeping it for certain crimes.

No, it's money. It's always money. This new heroin epidemic has made the drug game more lucrative than it's been at any time since the mid 90s. Increased money, leads to increased competition, leads to increased violence. Studies show that harsher sentencing has never been a true deterrent for crime.

[stburr91]

Originally Posted by gladhands

No, it's money. It's always money. This new heroin epidemic has made the drug game more lucrative than it's been at any time since the mid 90s. Increased money, leads to increased competition, leads to increased violence. Studies show that harsher sentencing has never been a true deterrent for crime.

This is no different than crack in the 80's. We're seen this before, the questions is are we going to do something about before violent crime gets to the level of the 1990's.