Series of EmergencyNet News Reports Concerning a Multiple Shooting in Wilkinsburg, PA on 01 March 2000
From: ERRI EMERGENCY SERVICES REPORT-EmergencyNet NEWS Service--Saturday, March 4, 2000-Vol. 4 - 064
WILKINSBURG, PA: Racist writings describing hatred toward whites, Jews and Asians, were found in the apartment of a black man accused in a shooting rampage that left three people dead in suburban Pittsburgh. Court documents released on Friday said police found one paper called "The Satan List" that contained the names of businesses referred to as "targets." Meanwhile, Ronald Taylor, 39, was arraigned yesterday on a third count of criminal homicide after a third victim died.
From: ERRI EMERGENCY SERVICES REPORT-EmergencyNet NEWS Service-Friday, March 3, 2000-Vol. 4 - 063
WILKINSBURG, PA: Police said on Thursday, a black gunman accused of killing three white people and critically wounding two others appeared to be motivated by racial hatred. Ronald Taylor, 39, who faces homicide and other charges, kept a notebook of "anti-white" and "anti-Jewish" writings at his apartment outside Pittsburgh and confided to witnesses that he meant to shoot only whites before unleashing his bloody rampage on Wednesday.
From: ERRI EMERGENCY SERVICES REPORT-EmergencyNet NEWS Service-Thursday, March 2, 2000-Vol. 4 - 062
PENNSYLVANIA:
Man Goes On Allegedly Racial Shooting Rampage Near Pittsburgh
Wilkinsburg, PA -- Two men were killed and three others were
critically wounded when a gunman who said that he intended to shoot only white
people went on a murderous rampage in suburban Pittsburgh on Wednesday. The
suspect, identified as 39-year-old Ronald Taylor, killed a maintenance man at
about 1030 EST in a dispute over a door repair at his apartment in the town of
Wilkinsburg. Taylor set fire to the residence and walked to a commercial area
armed with a .22 caliber pistol and a knife.
Taylor went to a McDonald's restaurant and shot three men. A fourth man was shot at a nearby Burger King. From there, the suspect entered an office complex where he took several hostages, including as many as five wheelchair-bound medical patients, before surrendering to a Pittsburgh police negotiator shortly before 1415 EST. An elderly man who was shot at McDonald's later died at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. The dead men were 71- and 55-years-old.
Sergeant John Fisher, a negotiator for the Pittsburgh SWAT team who talked to Taylor, said the suspect was upset about the door. He said Taylor's mood "went from anger to confusion -- distraught, fear and remorse."
The three wounded victims were all said to be in critical condition with life-threatening injuries, including one who was in a coma. Authorities said all five shooting victims were white men. Police refused to speculate about what they believe motivated Taylor. Wilkinsburg is an economically depressed community. It is located about six miles from Pittsburgh.
It was reported that the suspect had warned the manager of his apartment building earlier not to send white repairmen to his home. Two repairmen -- one white and one black -- had gone to Taylor's home but that Taylor only shot the white man.
Instant Update - 12:30CST - 01 March 2000
At Least Five people Shot in Pennsylvania Incident
Wilkinsburg, PA (EmergencyNet News) In what is being described as a "rampage," a man reportedly got into an altercation with his landlord and a maintenance man, set his apartment on fire, and then shot at least five people this morning. The initial shootings took place at a McDonald's restaurant and then the gunman fled and reported also shot a person at a nearby Burger King. So-far officially unconfirmed reports suggest that at least one person has died as the result of their wounds.
Police sources say that there is an on-going hostage/barricade situation at this hour, and that the building where the gunman is believed to be is surrounded by police and SWAT teams. Although details are sketchy, the suspect is thought to be holding "4 or 5 hostages," at the time of this report...
13:10CST - 01 Mar 2000
Suspect Taken Into Custody
Wilkinsburg, PA (EmergencyNet News) -- Police sources are verifying that a shooting suspect involved today's shooting rampage has been taken into custody and has been transported to Wilkinsburg police headquarters. Few other details of his arrest have been released and a major investigation concerning the entire matter continues.
Four victims are listed in critical condition at Mercy Hospital and UPMC Presbyterian hospital. Several of the wounded are thought to be in surgery or receiving other treatment for gunshot wounds. One person is confirmed dead from a gunshot wound. Emergencynet News continues to monitor events in Wilkinsburg and will provide details as circumstances warrant...
04 Nov 99 --Summary of Selected EmergencyNet News Real-time Reports Concerning Mass Shootings - 1996 to 1999
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