Multiple shots fired at Pittsburgh police officers, ATF agents in city's Upper Hill
Multiple shots were fired at Pittsburgh Bureau of Police officers and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agents trying to track down someone wanted on gun charges in Pittsburgh's Upper Hill on Wednesday evening.
Pittsburgh Police Chief Jason Lando said the shots rang out just before 11 p.m. on Wednesday in the area of Clarissa Street when police detectives and ATF agents were working together on the investigation. Law enforcement was trying to execute a warrant for a suspect wanted on gun charges, officials said. No police officers were injured.
Lando said that while law enforcement officers were working to locate the person, multiple gunshots were fired at an ATF agent's vehicle.
"The police car was struck," Lando said. "Thankfully, the ATF agent was not struck. No law enforcement officers were injured, and no Pittsburgh police officers returned fire."
Though he has not yet been charged, police sources confirm investigators believe 19-year-old Daniel Lightfoot-Gaines is the person responsible for firing those shots and then fleeing the scene. On Thursday morning, law enforcement tracked him to Homewood, where they took him into custody.
According to an affidavit, Lightfoot-Gaines was searched by police in July 2025 and found to have a Glock on him. He was not arrested at the time, but in February of 2026, there was a warrant put out for his arrest stemming from that incident on charges of carrying a firearm without a license. Officers were executing that warrant on Wednesday night on Clarissa Street when the shots were fired. On Friday morning, Lightfoot-Gaines was arraigned on the charges from the 2025 incident and held without bond. A preliminary hearing in that case is set for June 10.
Shortly after noon on Thursday, he was taken to Pittsburgh police headquarters for questioning. But since it was a federal agent who was fired upon, the investigation is being handled by the FBI, which will only say that a suspect of interest has been taken into custody.
"FBI Pittsburgh and our partners at all levels will work to determine the true facts of this investigation in order to ensure anyone who believes they can willfully target another individual, whether law enforcement or civilian, is brought to justice," the FBI said in a statement.
One firearm was recovered at the scene, Lando said, adding that he believes it was a handgun.
"These guys and ladies are up here working very hard to catch a dangerous individual, and they're out here putting their lives at risk to get the job done," Lando said. "I very much appreciate that, and we're gonna do everything we can to get this person in custody."
Editor's note: A previous version of this story said Lightfoot-Gaines had been arrested twice. That is incorrect. The story has been updated.
