Police: Man Kills Woman With PFA Against Him At Bellevue Bus Stop
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Police have arrested a suspect in connection with a deadly shooting in Bellevue earlier this week.
DeAngelo Zieglar is charged with shooting 28-year-old Rachel Dowden as she waited at a bus stop at Lincoln and Sheridan Avenues on Wednesday. She worked at the Cricket Wireless store a few blocks away.
According to police paperwork, Zieglar had a history of abuse towards Dowden, who was granted a protection from abuse order last November, that was valid through 2024. Zieglar is the father of one of her children.
Police paperwork also says officers were flagged down on Jan. 6 for a domestic incident between the two where Zieglar allegedly stole a gun Dowden had bought and struck her with it.
According to the criminal complaint, Zieglar called Cricket Wireless to find out what time the store closed. He and another man then jumped on a bus in downtown Pittsburgh that was headed to Bellevue.
Surveillance cameras captured the two getting off the bus. Police say Ziegler followed Dowden on Lincoln Avenue and then shot her multiple times. When asked why he did it by the other man, according to the complaint, Zeigler "just smiled and gave no explanation." He then waved down a bus to leave.
Police say the serial number of Dowden's gun is the same as the one that was recovered following the shooting.
Zieglar is facing charges of criminal homicide, tampering with evidence and weapons charges. A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for next month.
"Just tragic and heartbreaking, especially when someone has been working towards getting away from someone who they know was violent and when working so hard to really lead a life free from violence," said Nicole Molinaro, president and CEO of the Women's Center and Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh.
Molinaro said there is help for domestic violence victims.
"There is a multitude of different steps people can take and do take to get away from the violence, and working with your individual domestic violence program on a tailored safety plan can be absolutely critical," Molinaro said.
"Oftentimes, safety planning for domestic violence can include changing up your routine, whether it's for work or changing your location, so staying with a friend or family member, somewhere else that the abuser doesn't know where you are. It can mean staying in a shelter."
There are several ways to reach out to the Women's Center and Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh for help.
24/7 Hotline: 412-687-8005
Text: 412-744-8445 (9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily)
Chat: WCSCanHelp.org (9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily)
Website: WCSPittsburgh.org
