Surveillance photos capture teens accused of robbing man at Pittsburgh's West End Overlook
Surveillance photos captured a group of teens accused of robbing a man at the West End Overlook.
Pittsburgh City Councilwoman Theresa Kail-Smith provided KDKA-TV the photos. She said, "It's getting to the point where it's getting ridiculous."
According to a report obtained by KDKA-TV, police observed at least two military style rifles equipped with lasers and flashlights in the hand of two people.
Police believe they may have been involved in a robbery and vehicle thefts last Saturday.
The 911 dispatcher reported, "Male's calling in outside the station, would like to talk to officers about four males approaching him with guns near the West End Overlook."
The victim told police he was held at gunpoint by several people and his pockets were searched. Kail-Smith believes the suspects are teenagers.
"It's not OK for the people, it's not OK for the community and it's really affecting this entire region, and this is one of the safest zones in the city of Pittsburgh," she said.
Kail-Smith said the teens took off with nothing because the victim didn't have anything on him.
"There's so much of this occurring in Pittsburgh, with the vehicles and the robberies and all of the things that are happening, and at some point, I'm starting to feel like there's adults behind this and they're using the kids because there is no place to take kids. The Shuman Center has a small amount of people they can hold."
The Shuman Center reopened d last summer after three years of it being closed. But frustration continues to mount over there not being enough space to rehabilitate juvenile offenders. Instead, they go free.
"If anybody could be rehabilitated, it's somebody who's young. We need places where we can open up a place that has kids where they can stay, be rehabilitated," explained Kail-Smith.