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Horrific day caught on tape
Friday, March 10, 2000 By Matthew P. Smith, Post-Gazette Staff Writer
It's about 11:30 on a Wednesday morning when a police dispatcher in Wilkinsburg notifies officers on patrol that someone has been shot.
"Report of gunshot wound ... victim is at Metro," the dispatcher says in an even voice. "Shooting occurred at 1208 Wood Street. Victim's supposed to be at Metro."
And so began a 2 1/2-hour ordeal that would propel Wilkinsburg into the national news. It was the first report of a shooting spree that left three people dead, two others wounded, a community in shock and then, finally, grief and a lone gunman in custody.
Yesterday, tapes were released to the media of the radio transmissions between police and emergency dispatchers throughout the shooting rampage and the negotiations that ended with the surrender of 39-year-old Ronald Taylor.
Just minutes after the initial report, the dispatcher can be heard telling officers that a victim has been shot at a McDonald's. Then a report of a victim at a nearby Burger King. And then comes word that a second victim was shot at the McDonald's.
And as the gravity of the rampage builds, so, too, does the stress in the voices of the officers.
"We have an ambulance on the way for this gentleman in the back of McDonald's?" one officer inquires to the dispatcher. "He's in really bad shape."
Police at this point already have a description of the suspect and have established a perimeter in hopes of keeping him from getting away.
A few minutes later, the suspect fires shots in the direction of some officers.
"Get us some backup here!" says one officer over the radio. "He's shooting at us."
There's a brief pause and then the officer can be heard again, possibly yelling at a bystander to take cover. "Stop right there! Stop right there! Clear the air!"
Police soon converge on the Penn-West Building, where the suspect is reportedly inside.
Fifteen minutes after the initial shooting report, an officer comes over the radio. His voice sounds strained.
"We have a hostage situation."
Officers from Pittsburgh and neighboring communities begin converging on the scene as Wilkinsburg police try to determine exactly how many people are in the building and where the suspect may be hiding.
Police on the scene direct other officers to surround the building. One officer requests that other officers bring shotguns.
Occasionally, officers say they can see the suspect and other people, who they assume are hostages, standing with him. It's a confusing and rapidly unfolding scene, and police are trying to do everything they can to make sure they can get everyone out of the building safely.
"There are hostages with the actor," says one officer. "At least five civilian hostages in the room at this time."
Over the next hour and a half, police are able to get more and more people out of the building while a police negotiator, Pittsburgh police Sgt. John Fisher, talks to Taylor and eventually gets him to surrender peacefully.
The ordeal ends shortly before 2 p.m. with a brief call from Fisher to the dispatcher.
"Delta Four, you can advise all units we have this actor in custody."
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