Man Shot & Killed In West Mifflin

February 9, 2020 8:16 am

WEST MIFFLIN, Pa. (WPXI) — Allegheny County Police are investigating after a 20-year-old man was shot and killed in West Mifflin.  Police said the shooting happened around 10:20 p.m. Saturday in the 100 block of Palmer Lane.  It’s unclear what led to the shooting, but first responders found the 20-year-old victim shot in the chest at the scene. Anthony Orosco later died at a nearby hospital,  Homicide detectives are assisting in the investigation.  No information was released about the suspected shooter.  Anyone with information is asked to call police.

Former Greensburg Doctor Going To Prison For Illegally Distributing Opioids

February 9, 2020 8:15 am

A Greensburg resident has been sentenced to 41 months in prison with three years of supervised release and ordered to pay a $15,000 fine after his conviction for violating federal narcotics laws, U.S. Attorney Scott W. Brady announced. U.S. District Judge Cathy Bissoon imposed the sentence on 49-year-old Dr. Milad Shaker, who was found guilty of 14 counts of illegally dispensing opioids in mid October of 2019. Shaker, a primary care physician, illegally dispensed Hydrocodone and Percocet among other drugs in return for sex and sexually explicit photos and texts. In his defense, Shaker testified that, “opioids are like candy…10-20 pills will not hurt you.” U.S. Attorney Brady commended the Western Pennsylvania Opioid Fraud and Abuse Detection Unit for conducting the investigation leading to the prosecution of Shaker.

Jury Finds Pagan Motorcycle Club Members Guilty

February 9, 2020 8:15 am

A Washington County Court jury deliberated for just a few hours Friday, before finding two Pagan Motorcycle Club members accused of assaulting rival motorcycle club member Troy Harris, guilty. Matthew Vasquez, and Joseph Olinsky were charged with aggravated assault, conspiracy to commit aggravated assault and simple assault in the April 18, 2019 beating of Troy Harris at the Charleroi Slovak Club. The prosecution finished their testimony in the morning with Lt. Terry Katz, of the Maryland State Police taking the stand to describe the culture and hierarchy of the Pagans. Katz has extensive experience in surveillance, investigation and prosecution of outlaw motorcycle clubs. He testified that in his experience investigating organizations like the Pagans, acts of retribution are not carried out unless they are directed by club officers. The prosecution rested their case and afternoon testimony began with Matthew Vasquez taking the witness stand in his own defense. Vasquez testified that the reason he got involved in the assault of Harris was because he saw that Harris had a gun. He had no orders or intent to bring any harm to Harris, he was merely trying to disarm Harris. Olinsky testified that he was at the club merely following his other brothers looking to have a drink. He became involved in the scuffle merely to break it up. Assistant District Attorney Jason Walsh presented both defendants with the guilty pleas of all of the other assailants, including one where national Sergeant at Arms Michael Barringer says he ordered the assault, and asked why they are the ones that are telling the truth and everyone else went to jail by telling the opposite story.

Bryant’s Helicopter Was 100 Feet From Clear Skies

February 8, 2020 4:40 am

LOS ANGELES (AP) – Federal investigators say wreckage from the helicopter that crashed last month, killing Kobe Bryant, his daughter and seven others did not show any evidence of engine failure. That’s according to a report by the National Transportation Safety Board. The helicopter crashed into a hillside outside Los Angeles on Jan. 26. The NTSB is investigating the accident, including any role heavy fog played, and a final report isn’t expected for at least a year. A witness told the NTSB that the helicopter was flying forward and downward through the fog before it crashed into the hill.

Virus Cases Grown In China

February 8, 2020 4:35 am

BEIJING (AP) – The number of confirmed cases of the new virus has risen again in China while fatalities increased to 722, as the ruling Communist Party faces anger and recriminations from the public over the death of a doctor who was threatened by police after trying to sound the alarm about the disease over a month ago. The U.S. Embassy in Beijing says a 60-year-old U.S. citizen diagnosed with the virus died in Wuhan, apparently the first American fatality of the outbreak. China’s government says another 3,399 people had been diagnosed over the last 24 hours, reversing two days of declines, and raising the total number of cases to 34,546. Three more cruise ship passengers were diagnosed with the virus in Japan for a total of 64.

Iowa Caucus Turnout Below Expectations

February 8, 2020 4:34 am

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa Democrats are recovering from a number of disappointments after Monday’s Iowa caucuses, though one has received less attention than the others. About 176,000 Iowans attended their precinct caucuses. That’s fewer than expected, and 62,000 less than the party’s high-water mark of 2008. The parade of candidates and marquee events that drew thousands of activists and a Democratic base seething to unseat President Donald Trump had given some party insiders the impression turnout could match or top 2008.

Teen Facing Charges After Setting Girl On Fire At School

February 8, 2020 4:18 am

PITTSBURGH (WPXI) — A high school student was seriously burned in the middle of school. She says a classmate set her pants on fire for no reason, and now that other student – 18-year-old Andre Allen – is facing serious charges. The victim was inside Perry Traditional Academy in Pittsburgh when the unprovoked attack happened. She was treated for second-degree burns to her knee. According to a police criminal complaint, Allen had a lighter and was walking down the hallway. The other student was actually talking to the assistant principal when police said Allen bent down and lit her pants on fire. The principal helped the victim put the fire out, but the damage had been done. School police said Allen lit the student’s frayed jeans on her right knee, and she was treated for second-degree burns. Officials could only say they are “unable to share information related to an ongoing investigation involving a student.” Investigators also said the incident was caught on the school’s security cameras, and police have entered that as evidence in the case. Allen is facing aggravated assault, reckless endangerment and arson charges. It’s unclear if he is still in school. He is awaiting a preliminary hearing on those charges.

Witness Paid By Prosecutor To Fabricate Information

February 8, 2020 4:14 am

PITTSBURGH (WPXI) — The attorneys for the man on trial for the 2016 Wilkinsburg mass shooting claim a witness told them he was paid by prosecutors to provide fabricated information against suspect Cheron Shelton. During a motions hearing Friday afternoon, defense attorney Randall McKinney told the judge the witness came forward Monday, the day the trial began. McKinney claimed that witness was paid by the Allegheny County Police Department, Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to provide information on Shelton related to the March 2016 shooting during a barbecue on Franklin Avenue that killed five people and an unborn baby. McKinney asked for a mistrial or for a hearing to be held on the witness’ allegations. Judge Edward Borkowski denied both requests. The witness, who has not been identified, was allegedly in the Allegheny County Jail at the same time as Shelton. “He was told to get close to Mr. Shelton… and get Mr. Shelton to talk about the case and implicate himself,” McKinney said. Assistant District Attorney Kevin Chernosky told the judge the witness is not telling the truth and would not be called to testify. McKinney also asked the court to allow the motion and a transcript of the interview his office conducted with the witness to be made public. Borkowski ended the hearing by sealing the documents until the conclusion of the trial. The hearing happened after the jury was dismissed for the day. The trial will resume Monday morning.

Trump Fires Aide Who Testified At Impeachment Trial

February 7, 2020 4:24 pm

WASHINGTON (AP) – The decorated soldier and national security aide who played a central role in the Democrats’ impeachment case against President Donald Trump was escorted out of the White House complex on Friday. David Pressman is a partner at a New York legal firm that represented Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman. He said Vindman was asked to leave for “telling the truth.” Pressman said in a statement that there is “no question in the mind of any American why this man’s job is over, why this country now has one less soldier serving it at the White House.” Vindman testified that he didn’t think it was “proper” for Trump to press Ukraine to investigate his political rivals.

Preliminary Report Issued In Kobe Bryant Copter Crash

February 7, 2020 10:15 am

LOS ANGELES (AP) – Federal investigators say wreckage from the helicopter that crashed last month, killing Kobe Bryant, his daughter and seven others did not show any evidence of outward engine failure. That’s according to a preliminary report by the National Transportation Safety Board. The helicopter crashed into a hillside outside Los Angeles on Jan. 26. The NTSB is investigating the accident, including any role heavy fog played, and a final report isn’t expected for at least a year. A witness told the NTSB that the helicopter was flying forward and downward through the fog before it crashed into the hill.