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Jitney passenger traded gunshots with McKees Rocks assailant, police say
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A jitney passenger returned fire when two men started shooting, wounding another passenger Tuesday night in McKees Rocks, police said today.
The gunfire began about 7:45 p.m. near the intersection of Amelia Street and Chartiers Avenue.
McKees Rocks police Chief Robert Cifrulak said Aundre Palmer was riding in the backseat of a jitney when he asked the driver to stop at store on Chartiers Avenue.
Chief Cifrulak said Mr. Palmer confronted two people while inside the store, an encounter he mentioned to the jitney driver and the man riding in the front passenger seat when he returned to the vehicle.
Mr. Palmer asked the driver to make several left turns, essentially directing the driver back toward the store, Chief Cifrulak said.
"What they do is essentially turn around the block and start driving the direction of the store, when they notice two people sort of lurking in the shadows" -- or in shrubs -- "who pull guns and shoot," Chief Cifrulak said.
Evidence suggests the front-seat passenger returned fire at the the shooters, the chief said.
A dozen shots total were exchanged, Chief Cifrulak said. The passenger was not injured.
The driver pulled Mr. Palmer out of the car and medics drove him to Allegheny General Hospital. Witnesses said Mr. Palmer appeared to have a gunshot wound to the head, police said.
Police are looking for two men. Allegheny County police are helping McKees Rocks police with the investigation.
First Published December 5, 2012 12:38 am
