Man shot inside Pittsburgh club, suspect taken into custody
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- A man was shot overnight inside Club Pittsburgh in the city's Strip District. Pittsburgh Police say the shooting happened just around 2:15 a.m. on Friday at the club located along Penn Avenue.
According to police, when officers arrived at the club, they found the man had been shot multiple times in the chest and torso. The man was taken to the hospital for surgery and was last listed in critical condition.
Police say a man who is believed to be the suspect in the shooting was taken into custody at the scene. That man was was taken to the hospital for evaluation and will be taken to the Allegheny County Jail once released. Police did not provide the name of the suspect.
A gun was recovered from the scene, according to police.
Detectives from the bureau's Violent Crime Unit are leading the investigation into the shooting.
Club Pittsburgh has been open since 2001, serving the LGBTQ community.
The club issued a statement on its Facebook page saying:
"The management and team at Club Pittsburgh are deeply saddened by the tragic incident that occurred early this morning. Our foremost priority has always been to provide a safe and welcoming environment for our community, and it is heartbreaking that an act of gun violence has disrupted this space. Law enforcement has informed us that the suspect may have been experiencing "medical distress." We are actively cooperating with the investigation to better understand what transpired. In the meantime, we are committed to thoroughly reevaluating our safety, security, and admission protocols to ensure the well-being of everyone who enters our doors. Our thoughts are with the victim as they recover and we extend our sincerest gratitude to our patrons and the greater community for their continued support and understanding as we navigate this challenging time together. Please know we are dedicated to reinforcing Club Pittsburgh as a space where all feel safe and valued."
A former security guard from Club Pittsburgh told KDKA's Lauren Linder that the club doesn't search for weapons and said they were surprised because they've never seen things get out of hand there.
Police have not yet given word if this was a targeted incident or an isolated one.